Is this Oldcastle-southdown sand ok to use?

gooch

gooch

Member
I posted this in my many questions thread but it is buried in there and I am not sure if people are looking who can specifically answer this. I found a current form of White playsand made by oldcastle/southdown and it is distributed to a store within my area. The customer service rep I spoke with was very helpful and provided me these PDF's about their product that I have pasted in here so you experts can help decipher whether or not this sand would be ok to use as a base substrate to add live sand on top of.
The first one is the mineral composition of the white playsand.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET
WHITE PLAYSAND
SCREENED LIMESTONE
Product Codes
250302 50# Bags
420101 0.4 C.F.
820125 0.5 C.F.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS – (Typical)
Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3) 1.0%
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) 96.0%
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES – (Typical)
FINENESS
% Through No. 10 U.S. Standard Sieve 100%
% Through No. 20 U.S. Standard Sieve 56%
% Through No. 50 U.S. Standard Sieve 3%
% Through No. 100 U.S. Standard Sieve 1%
BULK DENSITY
SETTLED - # / FT3 95#/ft3
Specific Gravity 2.7
One thing I notice is that it is primarily limestone... which what I understood is all calcium (dead corals). So wouldnt this be the same as aragonite?
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Second sheet here is a more detailed collection of facts and figures that I cant tell is devoted to the specific white playsand, or to it's product line overall.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)
FOR NATURAL SAND OR GRAVEL
(Complies with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200)
Section 1 - IDENTIFICATION
Supplier/Manufacturer Emergency Contact Information
Oldcastle® Stone Products (717) 792-2631 (Laboratory - Ext. 235)
550 S. Biesecker Road
Thomasville, PA 17364
Product name and synonyms
Sand, Gravel, Construction Aggregate
Chemical family Formula
Limestone (CAS #1317-65-3) Not Applicable
Section 2 - COMPONENTS
Hazardous Ingredients
Respirable quartz (CAS# 14808-60-7) – greater than 0.1% by weight
ACGIH TLV-TWA (2000) = 0.05 mg respirable quartz dust/m3
OSHA PEL (8-hour TWA) = (10 mg respirable dust/m3)/(percent silica + 2)
Section 3 - HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
Potential Health Effects
Relevant Routes of Exposure:
Eye contact, skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion.
Effects Resulting from Eye Contact:
Exposure to airborne dust may cause immediate or delayed irritation or inflammation.
Effects Resulting from Skin Contact:
Direct contact may cause irritation by mechanical abrasion.
Effects Resulting from Inhalation:
Natural Sand or Gravel may contain trace amounts of free crystalline silica. Prolonged exposure to respirable free silica can aggravate other lung conditions and cause silicosis, a disabling and potentially fatal lung disease.
Exposure to limestone dust may cause irritation to the moist mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory system. It may also leave unpleasant deposits in the nose.
Effects Resulting from Ingestion:
Although small quantities of dust are not known to be harmful, ill effects (gastrointestinal irritation and blockage) are possible if larger quantities are consumed.
Carcinogenic potential:
Natural Sand or Gravel are not listed as a carcinogen by NTP, OSHA, or IARC. It may however, contain trace amounts of substances listed as carcinogens by these organizations.
Crystalline silica, which is a component of natural sand or gravel, is now classified by IARC as known human carcinogen (Group I). NTP has characterized respirable silica as "reasonably anticipated to be [a] carcinogen".
Medical conditions which may be aggravated be, inhalation or dermal exposure:
Pre-existing upper respiratory and lung diseases.
Section 4 - FIRST AID
Eyes
Immediately flush eyes thoroughly with water. Continue flushing eye for at least 15 minutes, including under lids, to remove all particles. Call physician if irritation persists or later develops.
Skin
Wash skin with cool water and a mild detergent. Seek medical treatment if irritation persists or later develops.
Inhalation of Airborne Dust
Remove to fresh air. Seek medical help if coughing and other symptoms do not subside.
Ingestion
Do not induce vomiting. If conscious, have the victim drink plenty of water and call a physician immediately.
Section 5 - FIRE AND EXPLOSION DATA
Flash point ...................................None Lower Explosive Limit.................…....None
Upper Explosive Limit.................None Auto ignition temperature...............…..Not Combustible
Extinguishing media.....................Not Combustible Special fire fighting Procedures....…....None
Hazardous combustion products..None Unusual fire and explosion hazards…..None
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Continued:
Section 6 - ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
Collect dry material using a scoop. Avoid actions that cause dust to become airborne. Avoid inhalation of dust and contact with skin.
Wetting of spilled materials may be beneficial to minimize generation of airborne dusts.
None of the components of this product are subject to the reporting requirements of Title III of SARA 1986, and 40 CFR 372.
Section 7 - HANDLING AND STORAGE
Follow the personal protection and controls set forth in Section 8 of this MSDS when handling this product. Respirable crystalline silica-containing dust may be generated during processing, handling and storage.
Section 8 - EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION
Skin Protection
Wash dust-exposed skin with soap and water before eating, drinking, smoking, and using the toilet facilities. Wash work cloths after each use.
Respiratory Protection
Avoid actions that cause dust to become airborne. Use local or general exhaust ventilation to control exposures below applicable exposure limits.
Use NIOSH/MSHA approved (under 30 CFR 11) or NIOSH approved (under 42 CFR 84) respirators in poorly ventilated areas, if an applicable exposure limit is exceeded, or when dust causes discomfort or irritation. (Advisory: Respirators and filters purchased after June 10, 1998 must be certified under 42 CFR 84.)
Ventilation
Use local exhaust or general dilution ventilation to control exposure within applicable limits.
Eye Protection
Safety glasses with side shields should be worn as minimum protection. In extremely dusty environments and unpredictable environments wear unvented or indirectly vented goggles to avoid eye irritation or injury. Contact lenses should not be worn when working with products which may generate airborne dust.
Section 9 - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL, PROPERTIES
Physical state...........Solid Odor................…………….......No distinct odor
Solubility in water...Negligible Vapor pressure..........……..…...Not applicable
Vapor density..........Not applicable Boiling point......…………….....Not applicable (i.e., > 1000 C)
Melting point...........Not applicable Specific gravity (H20 = 1.0)…....2.55-2.85
Evaporation rate......Not applicable
Section 10 - STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
Stability
Stable.
Conditions to avoid
Avoid contact with incompatible materials (see below).
Incompatibility
Not known to be incompatible with any materials.
Hazardous decomposition
Will not spontaneously occur. Silica-containing respirable dust particles may be generated by handling.
Hazardous Polymerization
Will not occur.
Section 11 - TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
For a description of available, more detailed toxicological information contact the supplier or manufacturer.
Section 12 - ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Ecotoxicity
No recognized unusual toxicity to plants or animals
Relevant physical and chemical properties
(See Sections 9 and 10.)
Section 13 - DISPOSAL
Pickup and reuse clean materials. Dispose of waste materials in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Where applicable, dispose of bags in an approved landfill or incinerator.
Section 14 - TRANSPORTATION DATA
Hazardous materials description/proper shipping name
Not hazardous under U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
Hazard class Identification number
Not applicable. Not applicable
Required label text Hazardous substances/reportable quantities (RQ)
Not applicable. Not applicable.
Section 15 - OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION
Status under USDOL-OSHA Hazard Communication Rule, 29 CFR 1910.1200
Natural Sand or Gravel is considered a "hazardous chemical" under this regulation, and should be part of any hazard communication program.
Status under CERCLA/SUPERFUND 40 CFR 117 and 302
Not listed.
Hazard Category under SARA(Title III), Sections 311 and 312
Natural Sand or Gravel does qualify as a "hazardous substance".
Status under SARA (Title III), Section 313
Not subject to reporting requirements under Section 313.
Status under TSCA (as of May 1997)
Some substances in Natural Sand or Gravel are on the TSCA inventory list.
Status under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act
Limestone is a "hazardous substance" subject to statutes promulgated under the subject act.
Status under California Proposition 65
This product contains up to 0.05 percent of chemicals (trace elements) known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. California law requires the manufacturer to give the above warning in the absence of definitive testing to prove that the defined risks do not exist.
 
gooch

gooch

Member
and continued again:
Section 16 - OTHER INFORMATION
Prepared by
Lance Griffin
Plant Manager
Oldcastle® Stone Products
550 S. Biesecker Road Thomasville, PA. 17364
(717) 792 - 2631
Approval date or Revision date
Approved: February, 1999
Revised: October, 2002
Other important information
This product should only be used by knowledgeable persons. While the information provided in this material safety data sheet is believed to provide a useful summary of the hazards this product as it is commonly used, the sheet cannot anticipate and provide the all of the information that might be needed in every situation. Inexperienced product users should obtain proper training before using this product.
SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE PRODUCT OR THE MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS THEREOF FOR ANY PURPOSE OR CONCERNING THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY Oldcastle® Stone Products except that the product shall conform to contracted specifications. The information provided herein was believed by Oldcastle® Stone Products to be accurate at the time of preparation or prepared from sources believed to be reliable, but it is the responsibility of the user to investigate and understand other pertinent sources of information to comply with all laws and procedures applicable to the safe handling and use of product and to determine the suitability of the product for its intended use. Buyer's exclusive remedy shall be for damages and no claim of any kind, whether as to product delivered or for non-delivery of product, and whether based on contract, breach of warranty, negligence, or otherwise shall be greater in amount than the purchase price of the quantity of product in respect of which damages are claimed. In no event shall Seller be liable for incidental or consequential damages, whether Buyer's claim is based on contract, breach of warranty, negligence or otherwise.

I apologize if this seems like gratuitous posting but I am anxiously awaiting an answer so that I can go ahead with plans on how I am going to provide sand on my aquarium. Obviously this saves a ton of money if this can work, and I can apply that money towards other areas of the hobby like more live rock.
I appreciate the effort anyone took to actually read through all of this stuff and come up with an educated guess as to what it all means lol.
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Nobody here really knows whether or not this would be toxic to my tank? Can someone tell me if since this sand is basically all limestone (calcium) then isnt it the same as aragonite? I am really curious about this and figured the people here could best try to answer this.
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
i'm not sure, but there is a different manufacturer out there now making sand that's ok. let me find the link.
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Originally Posted by renogaw
http:///forum/post/2932639
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...ght=home+depot
btw, if your southdown passes the vinegar test, it will be fine.
K, I read through that thread and did a google search for more info. It seems that people are getting conflicted reports as to whether or not that sand is silica based or if it is calcium based... People have tested it with vinegar but the company's own reps apparently are saying it's silica sand? It is all confusing to me.
This "new" southdown sand is supposedly screened limestone which is a calcium based sand. Being that it should disolve in vinegar like you guys say but the question that I now have is there a big difference between calcium sands and tropical aragonite sands? One thread I was reading was where someone was commenting how calcium sands disolve in a lower ph than aragonite sands... what will that matter to me? Or better question, why should it matter?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Gooch
http:///forum/post/2932674
K, I read through that thread and did a google search for more info. It seems that people are getting conflicted reports as to whether or not that sand is silica based or if it is calcium based... People have tested it with vinegar but the company's own reps apparently are saying it's silica sand? It is all confusing to me.
This "new" southdown sand is supposedly screened limestone which is a calcium based sand. Being that it should disolve in vinegar like you guys say but the question that I now have is there a big difference between calcium sands and tropical aragonite sands? One thread I was reading was where someone was commenting how calcium sands disolve in a lower ph than aragonite sands... what will that matter to me? Or better question, why should it matter?

Crushed & screened limestone is one step behind oolitic sand. Aragonite is mostly Calcium carbonate same for Limestone.
The downside of crushed limestone is that it will have some sharp edges that can injure sand infauna. If I were to use it I would first soak it in RO/DI water to dissolve some of the sharp edges. After that I would not hesitate using it once it has been cured.
 
gooch

gooch

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2934126
Crushed & screened limestone is one step behind oolitic sand. Aragonite is mostly Calcium carbonate same for Limestone.
The downside of crushed limestone is that it will have some sharp edges that can injure sand infauna. If I were to use it I would first soak it in RO/DI water to dissolve some of the sharp edges. After that I would not hesitate using it once it has been cured.
how long of a soak would you recommend? I can certainly do this as I was planning on soaking the sand ahead of time to remove the "dust" from it.
 
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