Old Castle / Kolorscape playsand

[topofsteel]

I have bought 2 bags of Old Castle Kolorscape playsand. Will it need to washed or anything before I use it in the tank? Thanks.

 

[moby]

Not familiar with the brand, but yes. You should thoroughly wash any sand before putting it in your tank. Also be very careful some sands are high in silicates and will cause endless algea problems. Also most playsands offer no PH buffering.
Moby

 

[saltwater8]

LOL, I just posted this question!!!
Where did you find it?!
Did it pass the vinegar test?
Let me know!!
:jumping:

 

[topofsteel]

what is the vinigar test?

 

[saltwater8]

LOL,
The vinegar test is a test to see if the sand has a buffering capacity...
Just take a spoon of sand, and put it in a half cup (glass) of vinegar. If it starts to fizz, even ever so slightly, it passes.
Where did you get it?!
:jumping:

 

[ryanhayes9]

wow saltwater8 i bought that sand yesterday. moby, its what you see in my 55 gallon hex diary( if you want to see the sand check it out! also rinsing tips there) you need to rinse it REALLY well.

 

[ryanhayes9]

got it at walmart like 30 lbs for $2.54

 

[moby]

I'm heading to Wally world!!

Moby

 

[saltwater8]

What EXACTLY is the name on the bag ryan??
***)
And which Walmart in Kiss, Fl....?
Thanks!!
:jumping:

 

[ryanhayes9]

it says
Kolorscape
White play sand, it is in a clear and blue bag.
its the walmart on the osceola parkway.
i could get you the # if u want e mail me at
ryanhayes96@excite.com

 

[saltwater8]

Does it pass the vinegar test?

 

[ryanhayes9]

checking

 

[saltwater8]

Its probably not going to fizz a lot, just a little.....

 

[ryanhayes9]

oldcastle or yardright tropical play sand is actually a aragonite (calcium carbonate based) sand verses the silica sand used in premium play sand. It does say not fit for traction or aquarium use. In a low ph tank (FW) it will dissolve making the ph high and the water hard. So for softwater freshwater aquariums it is not fit for use. But for cichlid and salt tanks it is basically the same thing as live sand only without being cured in saltwater to grow the worms, pods and build up the aerobic bacteria. It does buffer calcium and help maintain high ph.
To test attempt to dissolve a tablespoon in vinegar. If it fully dissolves and bubbles that is the calcium carbonate dissolving in vinegar. Silica will not dissolve.
Hopefully it is not colored but otherwise it should be ok. I just googled and it seems lotsa aquarium guys are using that stuff. Especially the white.
and if u r reading this thread bob thanks man

 

[saltwater8]

Yes, but wondering if the Kolorscape passes the test....

 

[ryanhayes9]

i put it in vinegar and it might have fizzed ever so slightly at the very beggining. but read the post above

 

[ryanhayes9]

kolorscape is made by oldcastle

 

[ryanhayes9]

r u still here

 

[saltwater8]

Yes, OldCastle makes a number of different sands, only one that they took over from Southdown is the kind we are looking for.
The actual one is YardRight, but they may have packaged it under a different name for different retailers also.
I am not sure if their Kolorscape is the right one however....

 

[ryanhayes9]

it is a mix of silica and argonite i found out. the sand i tested was rinsed so thats why i only got a small fizz. i saw on the other sw board that people also use it for chiclid tanks