[Airmotive]

Okay...I need some advice here. What is THE difinitive test to see if sand is aragonite? I found some sand what was packaged in PA. It looks and feels like sugar and is packaged by one of the companies known to process aragonite....but I don't want to start any rumors until I'm sure.

JJ

[Poseidon]

I THINK if it dissolves in vinegar, it is aragonite.

[Airmotive]

Yeah...I've 'heard' the same thing....got some sitting in a bowl of vinegar right now.....not real sure what to look for....a slow dissolve over several days or an Alka-Seltzer type reaction.

Originally Posted by Poseidon

I THINK if it dissolves in vinegar, it is aragonite.

[Ninong]

I have never actually run this test personally but it should be more like an Alka-Seltzer reaction. Vinegar is a weak acid, so it should dissolve calcium-carbonate fairly rapidly. Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) would work even faster. SiO2 (silica sand) would not dissolve.

You could end the suspense now by just posting exactly what was on the bag of sand you purchased. If you tell us exactly what the printing is on the bag I would be will to guess that we could give you an answer pretty quick. You would need to post ALL of the printing on the bag, not just the name of the company.

[Airmotive]

Sorry for the suspense. What I found at Wal-Mart was their 'house brand' Garden Basics play sand. A small label on the side read: Packed exclusively for Wal-Mart by OldCastle Stone Products of Easton, PA. Wal-Mart had two varieties of play sand, one a mocha colored beach sand I didn't pay much attention to, the other was this sugar-looking stuff. I checked it out and saw the OldCastle name (one of the aragonite producers) and got my hopes up. Alas....no fizzing in the bowl of vinegar. Sorry for the false hope.

Originally Posted by use
Ninong

I have never actually run this test personally but it should be more like an Alka-Seltzer reaction. Vinegar is a weak acid, so it should dissolve calcium-carbonate fairly rapidly. Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) would work even faster. SiO2 (silica sand) would not dissolve.

You could end the suspense now by just posting exactly what was on the bag of sand you purchased. If you tell us exactly what the printing is on the bag I would be will to guess that we could give you an answer pretty quick. You would need to post ALL of the printing on the bag, not just the name of the company.

[Ninong]

Yes, it could have been aragonite if it was Oldcastle and packaged in Easton, PA BUT it would have read "Oldcastle Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean" on the bag.

[Ninong]

If you live in Virginia, you should have no trouble finding aragonite sand at one of the Home Depots. You just have to keep looking. They almost always have it this time of year. You have to look in the garden department. Just don't ask for "aragonite" sand. Just look around to see what Play Sand they carry and you may hit paydirt. You want to find a bag with one of these three brand names -- Southdown, Yardright, or Oldcastle -- followed by the words "Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean." You might even see a little warning at the bottom of the bag: "Not for aquariums." Disregard that little bit of phony self-serving advice.

[Airmotive]

Strangely enough, I do live in Virginia and have scoured the HD's and Lowes here in the Tidewater area....no joy. How far north am I gonna have to roam?

On a seperate but related note; If I can find some Southdown here in VA....I'll be taking my truck down to Miami on the 25-26th of this month. If there's enough interest, I can haul up to 2000 lbs and make a few stops along the I-95 corridor. All I ask is cost plus a little donation for diesel fuel.

If I do find some, I'll make a seperate post and determine interest.

Originally Posted by Ninong

If you live in Virginia, you should have no trouble finding aragonite sand at one of the Home Depots. You just have to keep looking. They almost always have it this time of year. You have to look in the garden department. Just don't ask for "aragonite" sand. Just look around to see what Play Sand they carry and you may hit paydirt. You want to find a bag with one of these three brand names -- Southdown, Yardright, or Oldcastle -- followed by the words "Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean." You might even see a little warning at the bottom of the bag: "Not for aquariums." Disregard that little bit of phony self-serving advice.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Airmotive

Strangely enough, I do live in Virginia and have scoured the HD's and Lowes here in the Tidewater area....no joy. How far north am I gonna have to roam?

I have been told that it is only available at Home Depots on the east coast, including Virginia. I know a lot of people in the D.C. area who have found it. You need to check around on some of the larger boards like Reef Central. It is usually available all the way from NYC area down to the Carolinas, although available is spotty and sometimes seasonal.

On a seperate but related note; If I can find some Southdown here in VA....I'll be taking my truck down to Miami on the 25-26th of this month. If there's enough interest, I can haul up to 2000 lbs and make a few stops along the I-95 corridor. All I ask is cost plus a little donation for diesel fuel.

Bagged aragonite sand is not available in Florida but bulk aragonite sand is provided you know how to go about getting it. You can get 2,000 lbs of Southdown aragonite for about $40 if you know exactly how to work it. Check out the second picture in this thread: My Greenhouse FARM In the making!