sand?

[misguided]

How do you test sand to see if it will buffer the sand i have in vinegar and it is bubbling not fast but it is. Is it safe to use?I got it at HD?
Thanks
Logan

[jgoodrich71]

The vinagar is not a real good way to test. The best thing to do is take some freshwater and add it to a container with the sand. Wait a few hours, then test the pH of the water and compare it to the pH before the sand was added.

[mr pink floyd]

it is said that aragonite sand will "buffer"

the CAC03 is what would do it, but in order for the CAC03 to get in the water column, the PH would haev to be sooo low, it would dissolve the sand, and kill anything else in ther tank

this is just what ive heard, and it sounds right

[jgoodrich71]

Sorry Pink, that's not quite right. The reason I say to use freshwater is because it will have a pH around 7. When you put aragonite in, it will try to bring the pH up, maybe not to 8.3, but it will bring it over 7.0. As far as the bubble/fiz test, a stronger acid would be more accurate, and you would see efervescents (smoke) coming off of it.

Aragonite will help to buffer seawater.