Sand!!! Home Depot, Lowes!!

[darth tang]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
No, most people use Aragonite sand because it is safe, and it naturally buffers your pH while releasing calcium.
I believe I said that about buffering. And the silica sand is safe.

 

[gamedawg]

1journeyman - I don't have white sand. It is made the way it looks right now, and I don't like it. See, about 6 months ago, I bought my tank from someone who has had it set up for about 2-3 yrs. The sand he got was the white and black mixed live sand. I don't like it, but I don't want to take it all out. Several people told me to just put some mesh over it and put about a 1/2"-1" of white sand on top.
I just went to 3 different places and they only had 2 types of sand. All purpose and playsand, both were "quikcrete" and both were brown.

 

[gamedawg]

One more thing, I have no corals, just fish and a couple small peices of LR.

 

[airforceb2]

Putting sand on top of a live sand bed will kill all aerobic bacteria living on the top of the sand. You may have a small nitrite spike while the bacteria are created again but you will have more anaerobic bacteria to turn the nitrates to nitrogen gas.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by airforceb2
Putting sand on top of a live sand bed will kill all aerobic bacteria living on the top of the sand. You may have a small nitrite spike while the bacteria are created again but you will have more anaerobic bacteria to turn the nitrates to nitrogen gas.
Exactly. And I'm afraid the mesh will keep critters from getting into the sand to eat any detritus, while letting the detritus settle there- thus causing a nitrate trap.
Gamedawg.. just never heard that done before. People with more knowledge than me might be telling you the truth.. just really research it. My vote would be to use something like pvc pipe to divide your sand into sections, and then change out a section each week or so.

 

[fishtk75]

GameDawg
I would not use any sand for concete repair or play sand it has a lot of silica to grow algae I would use only like the others said Aragonite made from crushed coral help with PH you need to pay more for it but you well not have that big headache. I did not know you can not but web site short cut on this site sorry.
It is caibsea or tadal marine for LFS.
The screen is to stop the critters to go too deep like the others said you will have more anaerobic bacteria to turn the nitrates to nitrogen gas that is what a deep sand bed does
screen or no screen it will do the same thing anyhow. I would take the sand you see and push it to the back and put the new sand there around the glass 2 or so inches and on top back or take it out all of it like the other said little at a time in places then it is gone for good.
Look at site GARF if you want to really research it about screens and other setups like that not pushing them just for info.

 

[mihifisi]

No luck at Wally World!! I swear I am not giving the LFS that much money for sand!!! Has anyone had any luck so far?
Thanks,
D

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by Darth Tang
Here is a link backing up what I have said from one of the moderators......Bang guy no less.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...ht=silica+sand

here is my opinion on this. not my writing but i agree and posted
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...ghlight=silica

 

[gamedawg]

Damn. So would taking it all out and putting new sand in there be bad? That's what I wanted to avoid, but it sounds like there's not much way around it. Anybody want to trade some sand??? I would like to find some white sand and mix a couple bags of live sand in with it, when someone finds some nice white, inexpensive sand, let me know!!!

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by mihifisi
No luck at Wally World!! I swear I am not giving the LFS that much money for sand!!! Has anyone had any luck so far?
Thanks,
D

most stores sell dry araganite for only like 30 bucks for a 40 pound bag. i know its alot mroe then 6 bucks but when put up against other things in this hobby its rather cheap

 

[murph]

It may be good to keep in mind that silica is only one part of the formula that equals nuisance algae. You must also have a nutrient source and light. Improper lighting schedule and high nitrates and or over feeding equals algae. Silicates alone wont do it.
Very little of the buffering capacity comes from the substrate. Consistent scheduled water changes with a quality salt mix goes way further in accomplishing this than argonite substrate.
So I am with you and refuse to pay the LFS that kind of money for argonite.
It wont matter what you start with as substrate all new systems will have the obligatory diatom outbreak so don't stress out over it. If after six months you have an algae problem start looking for its source, and type of substrate is most likely not the problem

 

[fishtk75]

How much is it at the LFS? I do not see 30 bucks for 4 lbs. at my LFS that one is ripping you off.
What about the online Stores I seen 30lbs for 17 dollars?
Is there Contractor place that concrete Mason goes to in your area you can load up by weight if the sand they all said is ok that is cheaper I can buy a ton say for 20 bucks.

 

[airforceb2]

Originally Posted by oceana
most stores sell dry araganite for only like 30 bucks for a 4 pounds bag. i know its alot mroe then 6 bucks but when put up against other things in this hobby its rather cheap
Holy Aragonite Batman!!
That is some serious inflation there. I sure hope you meant $30 for a 40lb bag.
I have Carib-Sea Sea Floor with a layer of Arag-alive over it and it is all white.

 

[oceana]

Originally Posted by airforceb2
Holy Aragonite Batman!!
That is some serious inflation there. I sure hope you meant $30 for a 40lb bag.
I have Carib-Sea Sea Floor with a layer of Arag-alive over it and it is all white.
.
haha your right it should have been 40.
that would be some crazy pricing. super nice live sand is not even that much lol

 

[mihifisi]

Tropical sand has been found!! Local guy getting out of the hobby!!! 150 lbs worth!!

 

[chipmaker]

The shop I deal with has a heap of bags of southdown sand laying outside that he will not use. He also sets up and installs lots of commercial tanks and maintains them, and has been burn't more than once with Southdown sand..It may have all the chemical / physical properties, but it lacks in the company removing any metallic content. He has had a few tanks that started to get what looked like diamtom algae growth 0nly to find out it was iron / steel particles in the sand.......He ran a magnet into a bag that was there when He told me I could have all of it as long as I took all that was there, and just pushing a magnet (glass cleaner type) it came up with small rusty particles attached...The sand has been setting outside under a shed roof for awhile now, but still out of the weather, but bags were not fully intact....
I have two picos and a 15 gal set up with sand from the Florida Panhandle which is as white as sugar and is predominately silica (quartz) based. It does contain a minute mix of calcium based material but very little. It does not leech the so called silicate out to promote algae.....Its rather inert. I have to agree with Darth Tang.....silica and silicates are two different things entirely.