Caribbean Play Sand Substitute?

[big911dog]

Out on the west coast, our HD's dont carry the caribbean tropical play sand most everyone suggests getting. Is there another type of sand which could be used in its place? Will any sand work? If not, is there any type of sand or specific "ingredient" to stay away from?
I'm looking for something I can use underneath LS which I will use to seed the other stuff...
Thanks!

 

[squidd]

Pure white Silica sand blasting sand...
Inert, won't harm your tank and will mix well with "some" aragonite or LFS live sand...

 

[big911dog]

Thanks for the response Squidd. What do u mean "some" aragonite?
Also, do u know how big the particles are? I wanted a diamond goby eventually, so I want to make sure the particles are small enough to pass through the gills easily.
Thanks again...

 

[squidd]

I don't have a bag here at the moment but I believe the "screened" size is .4 to .8 mm...slightly more "consistant" in sizing than Aragonite but well within the recomended range of .2 to 1.2mm in sizing..
By "some" I assumed you would use it as a base and want to "seed" it with LS...
But it can be used by itself and "seeded" by LR instead..
Thing is the two will mix just fine...
Make sure your getting the pure white silica though...
The colors/tints indicate impurities...

 

[dskidmore]

The only major downside is the silica sand won't act as a pH buffer or calcium supply. If you're willing to keep up with the testing and additives (like kalk), it sould be fine.

 

[big911dog]

great. thanks guys!

 

[spline9]

I thought I read somewhere that we should avoid silicate based sands. I think it had something to do with algae. Am I wrong?

 

[squidd]

Silica is different than silicates and different than silicone...
The first is closely related to glass and the third holds it together and the two are already an intregal part of your tank...
Silicates generally come from your water and feed Diatoms, an outbreak of which will give you the "Deadly Brown Sludge"...
Silica sand is inert and will not affect your tank...

 

[spline9]

Ah, so I was right... kinda. Ok, so I was also wrong at the same time, huh? Hehe. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[big911dog]

the silica doesnt have sharp edges which will hurt the goby does it? :scared: (probably a stupid question since i bet u've already thought of that) :yes:

 

[dskidmore]

Depends on how the sand was formed. Look at a sample under magnification.