The local Home Depots in Tampa carry play sand made by "Quickcrete" (yes the company that makes cement)[img]/ubb/clown.gif[/img] (yes i'm sure it says play sand not redi mix cement)
Does anyone know if this is safe to use?
Thanks

I have heard of people using it but, it is silicate based. I personaly would not use it.

Jamey[img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

If your local HD doesn't have any in stock I would ask the manager to order a pallat. I would not use the Quickrete Play Sand. The sand you want comes in a blue bag with red letters and says it is from the caribean right on the bag. The local HD here in Erie usually keeps it in the gardening department instead of the contracting department so maybe give the gardening department a try. Most of the HD employees here are clueless about the Tropical Play Sand and send you right to the contracting department because that is where they keep all the other sand including the Play Sand that they are probably confusing with the sand you are looking for.

Greg

Jamey, what's the problem with silica based sands? they won't release silicates in the tank (read: diatom blooms), that seems to be a myth.

Read this article by Rob Toonen, it will give you a new insight about silica sands:
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html

The article starts like this:

I can't remember who said it anymore, and I don't really want to single anyone out, but the statement that buying cheap sand that contains quartz will ruin your tank is plain-and-simple bunk. I'm not sure where the idea that silica sand is dangerous to a reef tank came from, but typically silica sand is 99.0-99.9% SiO2 (depending on the source and grade), which is about the exact same chemical composition as the glass of your aquarium. If the addition of pure quartz sand is somehow dangerous to keeping a reef tank, we'd better all get our animals out of glass aquaria...

Read the rest, it's very interesting [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Joaco



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My webpage Updated 3rd July 2000

You guys need to contact reef as he has a supply of caribbean play sand(no silicates) at a reasonable price.[img]/ubb/spineyes.gif[/img][img]/ubb/spineyes.gif[/img][img]/ubb/spineyes.gif[/img][img]/ubb/spineyes.gif[/img]

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Shade & Sweet Water
Merlin701

He who buys cheap tools....gets all the breaks.

I agree Joaco, but they can't provide the same functions as a aragonite based sand.

Jamey[img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]


[This message has been edited by REAL BIG FISH (edited 07-09-2000).]

Aragonite sand (HD tropical play sand) provides calciun and carbonate for the tank. It provides PH buffering. The silicate based sands are not benificial in these ways and thus I would not use them!

Just my .02

Jamey[img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

Thanks guys for the info.
Especially Joaco. How do you guys feel about mixing aragonite with the playsand I found at say 50/50 ratio? (I'm just looking to save a few bucks here. I already went way over budget) But is it worth the risk?

not a good risk with price of species. The HD tropical play sand is under $4 for a 50 lb bag, you wont save any money.

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"I would rather be chasing momma around the bed....

But it is not $4 in FLA or GA.[img]/ubb/frown.gif[/img] It is not available!

Jamey[img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by REAL BIG FISH (edited 07-09-2000).]

I could be wrong but I dont think mixing the two types of sand would look right. The araganite sand is a white color when wet & im pretty sure silicate sand is tan. Could someone verify this or shoot it down. [img]/ubb/tongue.gif[/img]

Greg

I agree Jamey, just wanted to clarify the silicate / sand 'good or bad' subject [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

Joaco

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My webpage Updated 3rd July 2000