Sand!!! Home Depot, Lowes!!

mihifisi

mihifisi

Member
Ok I am trying my best to find the good stuff!! I have went into every home improvement store within a 30 mile radius.
I have got the strangest looks walking around with my vinegar bottle looking for sand.
Does any one on the east coast know where I can find the OLD CASTLE brand of sand?
Just got my 110 plumbed and ready!!
Any help would be great!!
Thanks,
D
 
mikeyjer

mikeyjer

Active Member
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
:notsure: what's the vinger for?
I think she meant a empty vinegar bottle to put sand in it, but wouldn't the sand be in bags? Unless she meant something else? :notsure:
 
lradlbeck

lradlbeck

Member
I am sure it was for "the vinegar test" if you pour vinegar on the sand and it bubbles it is Silica sand (I think that I have that right it could be the other way around)
 
fishtk75

fishtk75

Member
I do not know also but I did not take a change and used ***posts to other on line vendors are not allowed***
they can tell you where to buy in your area.
 
gebrony

gebrony

Member
i emailed the home depot near where i live for the yardright brand and they did not have it but they said to just talk to one of the workers and they should be able to special order it for you
 
darth tang

darth tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by lRadlbeck
I am sure it was for "the vinegar test" if you pour vinegar on the sand and it bubbles it is Silica sand (I think that I have that right it could be the other way around)
If it bubbles, that is the calcium based sand you want. However, some (including myself) have used silica based sand. You just have to rinse it a ton. Then when you are done rinsing it......rinse it out some more.
 
airforceb2

airforceb2

Active Member
Rinsing does nothing for silica sand. Silica sand is made of silicate and not calcium carbonate (aragonite). You can't "wash" the silica off sand. If you use RO water and keep the tank out of sunlight, you should be fine. Diatoms thrive on silicates so that is why people say not to use it.
 
darth tang

darth tang

Active Member
I wasn't referring to washing the the silica. Just washing out the "muddy" crap that comes with it. I have used this and not had one single problem. Scientifically speaking silic and silicates are different in their make up. Silica is compounded differently and isn't detrimental to water quality or cause diatom outbreaks like silicates do.
Most people choose or recomend the other sand for peace of mind. Run a search on this sight and you will see many have used silica based sand.
 
darth tang

darth tang

Active Member
I forgot to add the non silica sand will help buffer your water. That is the other reason it is recomended so often. But Silica sand is just fine.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Darth Tang
Most people choose or recomend the other sand for peace of mind. Run a search on this sight and you will see many have used silica based sand.
No, most people use Aragonite sand because it is safe, and it naturally buffers your pH while releasing calcium.
 
ezee

ezee

Member
mihifisi
Does any one on the east coast know where I can find the OLD CASTLE brand of sand?
Just got my 110 plumbed and ready!!
Any help would be great!!
Me too! Please share locations near NYC if you have em!
Thanks,
E
 
mihifisi

mihifisi

Member
Just sent a e-mail to YARDRIGHT who now owns the SOUTHDOWN name brand.
Hope to hear back. If there is enough intrest and I can get them to set me up as a dealer. Who would be intrested?
Thanks,
D
 
gamedawg

gamedawg

Member
SOOOO, Is just about any sand okay to use???
I am leaving all the live sand in my tank, but I want to put a plastic screen on top of it, and pour nice white sand on top. Since I already have the good stuff in my tank, what sand can I use for looks???
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Gamedawg
SOOOO, Is just about any sand okay to use???
I am leaving all the live sand in my tank, but I want to put a plastic screen on top of it, and pour nice white sand on top. Since I already have the good stuff in my tank, what sand can I use for looks???
I don't think that will work.... you are going to end up smothering the "good stuff" in your sand. That will lead to dead areas, ditritus build up, etc. Sand can stay "white" if you have good water flow and good clean up crew.
 
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