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View Full Version : Play Sand !!!! Is It Safe


sidneybrooksjr
04/19/2006, 08:38 AM
I've heard of people using play sand from home depot in their tanks. Does it work?

Travis L. Stevens
04/19/2006, 08:55 AM
Any sand is fine. The only difference in different sand are that some are Silica sand and others are Aragonite sands. Silica sand is fine and most often available. But Aragonite sand will dissolve in lower pH (7.8 and down) and provide Calcium and Alkalinity back to the aquarium. But, you will most likely have something wrong with your aquarium if you have pH that low (either CO2 issues, or issues with Ca and Alk balance). Most important for any sand is the size grains that you use. The smaller the grains the quicker your sandbed can provide anaerobic areas for denitrification. If the sand grain is too small though, then there won't be enough room for flow. It has to be just right or in some cases, a mixture.

DJOfir
04/19/2006, 09:03 AM
check this thread out it will have answers for the play sand issue.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=824725

CarmieJo
04/19/2006, 09:08 AM
Here is a mega-long thread about play sand. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26193 I have Southdown play sand in my tank. Here is a link to a free podcast http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162 that has a section about using play sand. If you don't have an iPod or MP3 player you can download iTunes for free and listen from your computer.

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