play sand (Mr. Salty)

healerhand

healerhand

Member
Hello Mr. Salty,
You have stated that home depot play sand will work for fish-only setup. The specific brand you mentioned was Southdown sand. Do i have to wash and clean the sand before i put it in the tank? or should i just pour it in like live sand would. Your response is greatly appreciated...
David C. Phan, D.C.
 
M

mr. limpet

Guest
Yes you will have to wash it.
How to strain it w/o loosing half of it is the trick... ehehehe
Mr. Limpet
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
Yea just rinse the hell out of it. Then put it in. Use a five gallon bucket about half full of sand at a time.P.S. Good luck finding it in Cali. I hear it's only avalible on the east cost.STEVE
[This message has been edited by MR . SALTY (edited 10-23-2000).]
 
healerhand

healerhand

Member
Hello Mr. Salty,
I stopped by Home Depot last night and looked for the play sand that you mentioned. HD have a brand called Paragon play sand. On the outside bag state that it has been washed and sansatized. Is that good enough? or should i try industrial sand???? Play sand is hell alot cheaper that pet store sand..... please response.... thank you..
David C. Phan, D.C.
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
I have personally been told not to use any silica sand. The southdown is not really sand,It's carabean(sp?)reef sand that is mined out of the same place that major brand aquarium sand is. It's just sold as play sand. Any other name is NOT the same.I'd pay the extra $$$ and stick with the real deal.STEVE P.S. every once and awhile reefland.com gets a few pallets of this stuff in 50lb bags. I think it goes for 25bucks a bag.
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
I do believe it's because of the diotum outbreak that can happen. I guess you are right SAMMY about all sand being silica based. If you were to use this "bad sand" will the diotums be a constant problem,or will it only be a temp problem???STEVE
 
healerhand

healerhand

Member
While i wast at home base, i also looked at the play sand that home base carry. HB carry a brand call California Play Sand. Its washed, sansitized, filtered and few other things.... it seen to be better than Paragon Play sand at home depot. I am thing about getting 2 bags (100 lbs total). That should be enough for my FO tank.....
 
healerhand

healerhand

Member
Hey Gang,
I got two 50 lbs bags of California Play Sand from Home Base. They were $3.95 per bag. Its a deal. I rinse it for about 30 minutes with water. While i was rinsing it, i noticed small sparkle like sand. From my personal geological experience, i thought it was some kind of metal base. The sparkles look like gold dust. Golden color and the size of sand. I test it out by using a magnet and the test was negative. The Gold dust didnt stick to the magnet. Should i be concern about this? I know i see the type of stuff on california beach (gold dust or sand with golden sparkles)
Thanks
David C. Phan, D.C.
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
Test for copper and other heavy metals. If this fails you could add a couple crabs,or a cheap anemone to the tank. If there is a problem they will perish quite quickly. STEVE
 
lar

lar

Member
I have used play sand in a FO, I did it because it looks great, no problems, Now I have a reef with real Live sand and crushed coral, Which doesn't look as good as the playsand.
My question is: Would I lose any of the positive qualities of the reef sand if I put a layer of Playsand over top?
 
healerhand

healerhand

Member
I am pretty disappointed with play sand as of right now. I rinsed for about 30 minutes few days ago. It is still very dusty and easy be disturb. There are much impurity in the same. I wonder how long would it take to clean it up. Now, its too late to change the sand....Damn it...
David
 
healerhand

healerhand

Member
Sammy,
Should i put some crushed coral substrate in it and cover it. Crushed coral acts as top layer. What do u think???
David C. Phan, D.C.
 
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