Hey Guys
So whats the cheapest, best substrate I can get for the 75? I just want a little sandy bottom to make it look nice, the 55 (fuge) will have a DSB for filtration. Play sand from HD/Lowes? Whats the name of said Play sand? What to look out for (silica based?)?
Play sand from Kmart…not in season yet but they may have some. 50lbs $4
You can also find it in the landscape seciton of HD or Lowes. About the same price for the same amount of sand. All you have to do is wash it throughly to get all of the dust out. Dont worry about sillica leaching… the sand is almost exactly the same as what makes up the glass in our aquariums, but you dont see people worrying about sillicates leaching out of the glass.
yup, i think i might try some of that white silica playsand from KMART or HD for my new frag tank. i got a few bags in the garage. its called KOLORSCAPE PLAYSAND. looks like this:
lots of reefers have used it. no problem. just google kolorscape and reef to find lots of threads. they should be stocking some soon at walmart, kmart but HD might still have a pallet under the garden roof.
I think I’ll check HD today, letcha know
[quote=“IanH, post:5, topic:1111”]
I think I’ll check HD today, letcha know[/quote]
Ian make sure the sand is actually white - they have brown quickcrete stuff that’s called play sand too, but is definitely NOT what you want to use in your tank.
My ciclids don’t seem to mind it, but yeah, that’s fairly ugly stuff.
It’s about the color of ciclid poop, so at least that blends well …
nope , this stuff is white as old southdown.
[quote=“kaptken, post:8, topic:1111”]
nope , this stuff is white as old southdown. [/quote]
I was talking about the quickcrete stuff Al Craig mentioned. It’s not white @ all.
[quote=“ronert, post:9, topic:1111”]
[quote=“kaptken, post:8, topic:1111”]
nope , this stuff is white as old southdown. [/quote]
I was talking about the quickcrete stuff Al mentioned. It’s not white @ all.[/quote]
Not me Craig mentioned it
Sorry Craig.
No need to apologize to me Ted.
ive been reading heavy on this, and like most things in this hobby, you get many mixed reactions…
1.youll be fine
2.the silicates will leach, and diatoms will bloom
3.algae blooms happen anyway, so deal with it
4.silicates will raise phosphates, thus rasiing ur nitrates…?
even on the Kolorscape bag it says not for Aquarium use…i know most Co.'s probley do this to cover their ass since they dont incorporate strong controls…
ill have to search Kolorscape a little more indepth, but i was just looking for some feedback…
I have also done a fair bit of reading. Sillica sand is crushed quartz, more or less the same thing as glass as far as makeup goes. I wouldnt hesitate to use 100% sillica sand in a marine aquarium as long as it is washed. The only benefit I see to Aragonite sand is that oolitic sand can be easier on the mouths of sand sifting organisms.
ok, i understand that about the glass…ive also read that some silicates are water soluble and some arent??? is that incorrect?
im revamping the tank today after getting my recent crash finally situated…and im going to slowly make the sand bed deeper…id like to cut the cost, but im just wondering if i should just buck up and go to DPA…
is this stuff in stock right now to your knowledge?
could i just ride to the nearest beach, get sand, and thoroughly clean it? or would that be the least safest choice?
That would be the least safe choice. Local sands “probably” have all sorts of heavy metal contamination that you probably dont want in the tank. I can tell you from personal expierence that you dont see more diatoms with play sand than you do with normal sand. We used it in our 75g for months and never had a problem. Some sillicates are water solluable, but those are generally the ones that already come in the water… they dont leach out of glass/quartz.
ok, i went to DPA and talked to Andy…he said the same thing about beach sand…just too many variables and unknowns…when i set the tank up in my computer room ill use play sand and see if theres a difference…
i ended up buying the aquarium brand bag from DPA…26 dollar piece of mind for me atleast…