Topic discussion to get the forum active!!!
I have been on several different FB group pages and a topic that comes up a lot is sand. Is it safe to use play sand or pool filter sand in a saltwater tank?
Some people say yes some say no. It always seems to be a big discussion. So what are your feelings on it?
Let me hear some opinions, thoughts and or experiences!!!
It might be safe but personally think the play sand or pool filter sand looks like crap
You are correct. Sand type is , and always will be a hot button issue. People seem to feel strongly one way or the other, or not much at all. I think It depends on their first experience with any particular type of sand. Lacking any significant study or data , Opinions Vary!
There are lots of areas of concern or arguement. Chemical composition and reactivity with water chemistry for one. size and shape of sand particles and how they affect biological functions. and appearance and mobility. How does it affect sand sifting critters? Stuff like that. And of course, how deep to pile it, or do you use a plenum ? Or no sand at all?
Lots of things to consider, evaluate and debate~~~??
Where to begin?
I remember when I got in to the hobby everyone wanted South Down - it was white, small granules, and clean. The manufacturer figured out it was being used in the hobby and jacked the prices up - then discontinued it.
I used it once - it was so small, and so light and fluffy I had a perpetual sand storm. Seriously - a fish would swim across the tank 12" above the sand bed and I’d see a cloud behind it - always ade it look like the fish was swimming at 100mph.
I never did figure out what all the rage was.
I’ve used playground sand in my last 3 tanks. I think it’s fine personally. Can’t say that it did or didn’t contribute to algae issues though.
Short cuts in this hobby can have bad results. Silica based play sand WILL leech silicates and it can cause diatom blooms.
But remember, once you take a chance that it won’t have a negative effect on your tank, it certainly is a big PIA to get all that sand out. :BB)
Just my :TWOCENTS
Never had a diatom issue. Always a struggle with GHA, but I’ve had that just as much with live sand as playground sand. I bought the sand from my LFS for like $.50/lb. Too hard to pass that up at the time. If money isn’t a concern, I’d go with LS.
JMHO, and not a very usefull one at that, I will probably always go bare bottom from now on. once I made the change, I havent had nearly as many problems as I used to… but tanks with sand do look nice… I agree with houndsman though, I dont try and take hte cheap short cuts anymore. not saying that it wont work, but why risk it with all the work that goes into this hobby.
I made this mistake when I sent my 180 up. Was the worst thing I did. I rinsed that stuff so much before I put in un and my tank still looked like a mud puddle. It was impossible to have a water movement without the sand blowing everywhere. I slowly covered all the sand with aragonite. After I about 2 weeks I would sift the sand out and separate the sand and aragonite and put the aragonite back into the tank. I will never make that mistake again!! I would also talk anybody off the ledge if they said they wanted to take that plunge.
I had a few people ask me if I was going to use play sand in my tank. The answer is no. I just posted this up as a topic discussion because I see this come up a lot on the FB group pages.
I’ve always preferred a DSB, so Southdown (100% oolitic aragonite) was my substrate of choice, and at less than $10 for 50 lbs. a great value. Unfortunatley, someone got wind of this emerging market, and saw the $$$ to be made, so this is no longer the case, and I’ve had to start using the Caribsea’s sugar sized oolitic aragonite at about 4 x the price. Two main reasons for using aragonite vs a silica based sand, are its buffering capacity, and the fact that it provides a better environment for the infauna that is necessary to keep the DSB healthy.
I have one unopened bag of the original Southdown Play Sand left. Kind of an antique by now. and a partial bag of southdown and caribe sea, and seachem oolithic. if anyone needs some.
the difference between silica based and aragonite fine sands , besides the chemical reactivity, is silica sands are crushed and have sharp edges, oolithic aragonite is formed spherically in the ocean, its much gentler on sand sifting critters, and blows around different.
the old southdown play sand and Caribe sea used to be provided by the same company from the Bahamas. but they had some legal problems with their import license for a while and couldnt import either. they got it back and once again supply the aragonite for construction and reef tanks. but HD sells the cheaper white silica sand only , now.
they only sell wholesale by the 20 yard truck load now. but we could make a group buy?!