Is this sand ok for my tank?
- Thread starter garfunkle
- Start date
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nemo_66
Guest
Originally Posted by Garfunkle
Well poop in my shoes, I bought the tan kind. I guess I will take it back and get the fine grain, even though it says do not use for aquariums. That seemed a little fishy...get it fishy?
It may be that a single manufacturer owns this brand along with an aquarium brand and thay just put the warning to try to get you to pay $20 a bag for the same stuff.
thats exactly it! but if you do use it, make sure to rinse it out first
Well poop in my shoes, I bought the tan kind. I guess I will take it back and get the fine grain, even though it says do not use for aquariums. That seemed a little fishy...get it fishy?
thats exactly it! but if you do use it, make sure to rinse it out first
reefkprz
Active Member
Originally Posted by NVMYCJ
Have you guys ever heard of good or bad things about that black sand that some LFS sell? I believe it's called Tahitian sand, I'm not tooooo sure. Thanks.
its "tahitian moon sand" I think its awesome for freshwater cichlid tanks. I dont know about using it in a reef though. I only use calcium carbonate sands. Its worth the money IMO.
Have you guys ever heard of good or bad things about that black sand that some LFS sell? I believe it's called Tahitian sand, I'm not tooooo sure. Thanks.
its "tahitian moon sand" I think its awesome for freshwater cichlid tanks. I dont know about using it in a reef though. I only use calcium carbonate sands. Its worth the money IMO.
stanlalee
Active Member
you need this one
as you can see two bags from two different stores but one whiter than the other. anywho same label, same do not use for aquarium use, same barcode ect.
I use it and have had no problems. 50lb bag cost $3.10 and I like the look and fine texture better than any aquarium sand I've seen so far. I havent had any abnormal algae problems. I had the initial diatoms that have seen on a thousand tanks with aquarium sand and after that phase no significant substrate algae (and I leave my Metal Halides on from 10:00a to 9:45p). Because its fine detritus will sit on top of it and will not bury under it which can be good or bad (good if you have the 30x turnover I have where nothing actually settles, bad if you dont). my biggest problem is the sand is so fine if the powerheads arent positioned just right I wake up to a mound of sand and a bare section.
as you can see two bags from two different stores but one whiter than the other. anywho same label, same do not use for aquarium use, same barcode ect.
I use it and have had no problems. 50lb bag cost $3.10 and I like the look and fine texture better than any aquarium sand I've seen so far. I havent had any abnormal algae problems. I had the initial diatoms that have seen on a thousand tanks with aquarium sand and after that phase no significant substrate algae (and I leave my Metal Halides on from 10:00a to 9:45p). Because its fine detritus will sit on top of it and will not bury under it which can be good or bad (good if you have the 30x turnover I have where nothing actually settles, bad if you dont). my biggest problem is the sand is so fine if the powerheads arent positioned just right I wake up to a mound of sand and a bare section.
aztec reef
Active Member
that's some really nice cheap sandbed, I love the fine white clean look :happyfish
aztec reef
Active Member
aztec reef
Active Member
do the vinegar test cuz i'm about to buy a pallet of this
aztec reef
Active Member
did you see Stanlalee's tank?(it doesn't seem be to be suffering from algea bloom) i would still use it even if it passes or not.
garfunkle
Member
Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
do the vinegar test cuz i'm about to buy a palet of this
too late, already in the tank. At this point, I don't think it matters. I think if the guy that posted pics of it in his tank does not have algae problems after it has been established for some time, then it should not be a problem.
do the vinegar test cuz i'm about to buy a palet of this
too late, already in the tank. At this point, I don't think it matters. I think if the guy that posted pics of it in his tank does not have algae problems after it has been established for some time, then it should not be a problem.
aztec reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by Garfunkle
too late, already in the tank. At this point, I don't think it matters. I think if the guy that posted pics of it in his tank does not have algae problems after it has been established for some time, then it should not be a problem.
that's what i think too! cuz we know it's Not 100% silica, so it's either calcium carbonate or silica-based, but if it was silica-based i would think he would have a little bigger problem in algea..
too late, already in the tank. At this point, I don't think it matters. I think if the guy that posted pics of it in his tank does not have algae problems after it has been established for some time, then it should not be a problem.
that's what i think too! cuz we know it's Not 100% silica, so it's either calcium carbonate or silica-based, but if it was silica-based i would think he would have a little bigger problem in algea..
bonebrake
Active Member
Silica-based sand does not cause algae blooms. The problem with it is that it forms sharp, jagged edges that create an unfavorable, and in some cases uninhabitable, environment for sandbed microfauna.
Calcium carbonate-based sands are more favorable, not only because of their supposed buffering capacity (although, the buffering capacity is next to nil in the grand scheme of things), but are also more favorable because they often have rounded edges and sandbed microfauna can more easily traverse through the sandbed.
Silica (SiO2) does not cause algae blooms; silicate (SiO4) does.
The problem is silicate is a contaminant of every sand we use in aquaria and you will always get a diatom bloom when setting up a new aquarium or adding new sand.
:joy:
Calcium carbonate-based sands are more favorable, not only because of their supposed buffering capacity (although, the buffering capacity is next to nil in the grand scheme of things), but are also more favorable because they often have rounded edges and sandbed microfauna can more easily traverse through the sandbed.
Silica (SiO2) does not cause algae blooms; silicate (SiO4) does.
The problem is silicate is a contaminant of every sand we use in aquaria and you will always get a diatom bloom when setting up a new aquarium or adding new sand.
:joy:
aztec reef
Active Member
Bonebrake said:Silica-based sand does not cause algae blooms. The problem with it is that it forms sharp, jagged edges that create an unfavorable, and in some cases uninhabitable, environment for sandbed microfauna.
Calcium carbonate-based sands are more favorable, not only because of their supposed buffering capacity (although, the buffering capacity is next to nil in the grand scheme of things), but are also more favorable because they often have rounded edges and sandbed microfauna can more easily traverse through the sandbed.
Silica (SiO2) does not cause algae blooms; silicate (SiO4) does.
The problem is silicate is a contaminant of every sand we use in aquaria and you will always get a diatom bloom when setting up a new aquarium or adding new sand.
yeah i never said Silica was the factor to algea bloomsdid you know that even the ocean has silica?
what i said was IF this is silica-based it means it has a bunch of impurities wich Will MULTIPLY the cause of algea.. ***)
aztec reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by Bonebrake
It is not too late; he can still take a small scoop out, drain off most of the water, and fill up the cup with vinegar and dump the sand in. It will still bubble if it is calcium carbonate based.
:joy:
I don't see what the point of this would be other than Confirme that it is carbonate based,but if it's not then he shouldn't use it?
It is not too late; he can still take a small scoop out, drain off most of the water, and fill up the cup with vinegar and dump the sand in. It will still bubble if it is calcium carbonate based.
:joy:
I don't see what the point of this would be other than Confirme that it is carbonate based,but if it's not then he shouldn't use it?
aztec reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by Bonebrake
Silica-based sand does not cause algae blooms.
:joy:
actually it does, 100% silica sands may Not. but silica-based that's a different Story.
Silica-based sand does not cause algae blooms.
:joy:
actually it does, 100% silica sands may Not. but silica-based that's a different Story.