safe sand??

[biecacka]

hey everyone a reefer on my local site seen this and im curious if its reef safe or does anyone know?

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...ent/50lb-white-play-sand/p-1408376-c-5648.htm

if not does anyone know where to get south down? but my first choice is the menards sand.

corey

 

[tkeracer619]

It could very well be safe but most sand places spray down the sand with oils to keep it from blowing around. IMO sand is cheap and unless you need a ton of it its best to just stick with reefgrade sand.

Caribsea sells a sand that is very similar to southdown. Southdown is a thing of the past unfortunately.

 

[biecacka]

what do you mean "a thing of the past?"
i have seen on this site and others ppl who have used "play sand" for yrs with no problems. im converting my BB tank to one w sand (back to) its only a 220 so i dont need much sand
corey

 

[tkeracer619]

I have southdown in my tank. Southdown is no longer produced and all stock sitting on shelves is gone.

FWIW southdown was full of sticks and leaves.

Its not worth it to use play sand. They don't always have bad things in them but sometimes they do. Southdown was aragonite, most play sands are silica or byproduct from grinding rock.

 

[bif24701]

I have southdown in my tank. Southdown is no longer produced and all stock sitting on shelves is gone.

FWIW southdown was full of sticks and leaves.

Its not worth it to use play sand. They don't always have bad things in them but sometimes they do. Southdown was aragonite, most play sands are silica or byproduct from grinding rock.

What sand would you suggest now for my new 120 build, mixed reef? I did sugar fine DSB in my last DT (72g) but I only want about 2" but cant decide on size. Problem is I don't want it to be blow around with high flow.

 

[tkeracer619]

For a little bit larger then sugar sized I like this one in original.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+16764&pcatid=16764

 

[biecacka]

The one w the link above is posted as "beach" sand. Does the vinegar test work?

 

[Lemeshianos]

I have used silica play-sand and the only problem was that the sand would easily get blown on the rocks and had to clean them very often.

Due to this reason I will be using a larger particle sand now that I am restarting my tank.

 

[Chris27]

Go on down to the LFS and pick one that you like, it's really that easy. Using sand from a local hardware store has risks.....whereas the products sold in a LFS are designed, packaged and sold specifically for use in a reef aquarium.

FWIW, using a medium grade sand won't blow around as much as fine sand, and it won't be big enough to trap junk. Another benefit to it is that you can use a gravel vac to clean it without sucking it clean out of the tank.

 

[Paco]

I found it easiest to just bite the bullet and get sand from CaribSea (from the LFS). At about $1 a pound or sometimes less on sale, it's not a huge price. I think I have about 120 or 150 lbs in my system, which isn't much compared to the total outlay.

 

[kissman]

a lot of play sands have silicates in them. some are man made sand. My suggestion is to do it right the first time. substarte 20lbs is $19.99 and 40lbs is $34.99 and no heavy shipping costs

 

[lordofthereef]

That sand is a silica sand. This is the same stuff they sell around here. The good stuff being sold at hardware stores is a thing of the past, sadly. This is not to say you can't use this stuff. I do know it is much tougher for a lot of sifters to deal with it though. Some say avoid sifters all together with silica sands.

 

[biecacka]

how much sand in a 220 gallon is recommended?
corey

 

[lordofthereef]

Depends on the sandbed you want. For a shallow bed, I would estimate about .75-1lb/g. Going deep, well, depends on how deep you want it.

 

[biecacka]

So w the exception of sand sifters this "play" sand would work?
Corey