[mountaindew]

I found this at walmart.It is made by old castle and says small amount of silica.It also says not for aquarium use but they say they have to put that on there for a disclaimer because they sell the same thing to LFS for a higher price

[Poseidon]

Here is a 100% sure fire way to tell:

Shot glass full of vinegar, pinch of sand.

If the sand bubbles, it is aragonite, if it doesn't, it is not.

[leebca]

Many of the so-called play sands are suitable for our children, but not for our marine aquariums. Some sand blends contain contaminants.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by mountaindew

I found this at walmart.It is made by old castle and says small amount of silica.It also says not for aquarium use but they say they have to put that on there for a disclaimer because they sell the same thing to LFS for a higher price

If it says anything at all about a "small amount of silica" it's probably not aragonite. Check it out anyway to see if it fizzes when it comes in contact with vinegar. Aragonite releases CO2 when it reacts with an acid. In fact, it will dissolve in vinegar if you use enough vinegar -- quartz sand will not.

The warning about a "small amount of silica" is usually put on bags of quartz sand. What they really mean is a small amount of silica dust, which is carcinogenic if inhaled into the lungs. Quartz sand is SiO2 (silica dioxide). Aragonite sand is CaCO3 (calcium carbonate).

Please let us know what you find out. If it really is aragonite sand, that would be a very good catch!



P.S. -- What does all the really fine print say?

[mountaindew]

Iput it to the vinegar test,nothing.What is the difference between aragonite sand and aggregate sand

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by mountaindew

Iput it to the vinegar test,nothing.What is the difference between aragonite sand and aggregate sand

Aragonite is one of the three crystalline forms of calcium carbonate.

Aggregate is just an adjective that means a mixture from various sources or, in construction, it probably means sand used to make concrete.

In any event, what you are looking at is not aragonite if it didn't fizz when added to vinegar.

Oldcastle always uses the phrase "Tropical Play Sand from the Caribbean" on their bags of play sand that are aragonite sand from the Bahamas.

[Poseidon]

I don't think I would use it myself. It may be harmless, but then you are also not gaining anything....

The aragonite sand helps in buffering, (in theory anyway) and it can help maintain pH, calcium and carbonate levels as well. ( Again in theory, according to Calfo.)

[mountaindew]

it might cost more but I think I might be better off