sand for DSB

[somosomo]

I have been going over the threads in the main forums trying to find an alternative to spending several hundred $ for a deep sand bed. It seems like the silica sand that used to be available at Home Depot is no longer around.

Any one know of another option/s for building a sand bed on a budget. I am upgrading to a 75 . Lights are ordered and tank is here I plan to seed it with the sand from my current tank.

thanks
Nate

 

[Bonebrake]

Home Depot or Lowes has to have some silica based sand. It is ugly as sin in a display, but it will make a great remote DSB if that is your intention.

 

[somosomo]

anywhere to get cheap aragonite??

 

[rickyfins]

As Far as aragonite, we are all pretty much out of luck, unless you find old stock somewhere. Check with Home Depot, it will be in their computer if they have some in the warehouse and can have it delivered to the store. Last time I checked here at home, their warehouse supply was out.

I would look into a landscape company as they use many different types of sand in day to day business. You may get lucky.

 

[somosomo]

so no luck with aragonite sand

so no luck with aragonite sand

So is can i use any silica based sand from Lowes? Anybody have any experience with specific products?

thanks
nate

 

[CarlC]

Any silica sand will work. Go with the smallest grain you can find. The biggest issue with it comes from the shape. Silica is square were as aragonite is round. You have more surface area with the aragonite. You really don't want to be using silica if you plan on having sand sifting gobies and such. The silica can sharp on the edge's.

Like Bonebrake mentioned it will make a great RDSB.

Carl

 

[rickyfins]

Wish you woulda let me know about 4 weeks ago, I sucked out the sand bed in my tank, its purpose was always to be temporary. Now that the tank is almost 1 year old, it had to go. Its not in the final plan for the tank and the critters and maintenance I just didn't want to deal with. I had about 2 or 3 inches of sand in my 175 I am down to about 1/2 inch or less in most places.

Yea, I drink funny coolaid sometimes!

 

[Critter]

Re: sand for DSB

I bought the sand from HD. It is a bright white, I couldn't be happier at like 2 something a bag. 40lbs. I still have a bag, so I'll take a look at the brand etc for you when I get home.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13542935#post13542935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by somosomo
I have been going over the threads in the main forums trying to find an alternative to spending several hundred $ for a deep sand bed. It seems like the silica sand that used to be available at Home Depot is no longer around.

Any one know of another option/s for building a sand bed on a budget. I am upgrading to a 75 . Lights are ordered and tank is here I plan to seed it with the sand from my current tank.

thanks
Nate

 

[somosomo]

thanks for all the help guys.

appreciate the help with the brand name Critter

nate

 

[Critter]

Ugh, I forgot. gonna have to pin a sticky note to my chest. (Actually I'll send myslef an email lol). So for my neglagence, I will take a pic of the bag as well.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13551433#post13551433 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by somosomo
thanks for all the help guys.

appreciate the help with the brand name Critter

nate

 

[Critter]

Here it is When you look at it in the bag in the store it will look off white, but to be sure it is BRIGHT white in your tank.

 

[supertech99]

just to add a little more to this one for others. I used about 60lbs of caribsea sand and about 25lbs of fine play sand from lowes for my display (they only had one kind). I had to rinse it out a lot because of the antidust they add to it but once it was rinsed properly and mixed it looks just like the "rose pink" live sand that caribsea sells. the argonite sand is white and the playsand has a slight pink hue, it is a nice very natural look I think. I still get the buffer from the argonite and saved about 40 bucks by mixing the 2. I plan on using the other 25lbs for my rdsb that i will be plumbing in here in the next few months.

 

[Python73]

If you are still looking for sand, you might send a PM to Steve Pro. He had 9 million tons of sand dumped in PA for his greenhouse, last I talked to him he still had a bunch. He MAY even be coming to the swap out there, can't recall which swap he picked.

Anyway, drop him a PM. He is "Steven Pro" on RC.

HTH

S !

 

[rickyfins]

If I remember correctly, Steve decided to go to the Ohio swap this year.

 

[somosomo]

Thanks..
I pmed him.

nate

 

[ranger07]

I picked up white silica sand at Coles Hardware.Very cheap too.