Substrate dilemma please help!!!

[dalley]

So i decided to make the switch from CC to LS, however I cant afford 80 lbs of live sand right now and I cant find SouthDown here in Arizona. Unfortunately, I already removed 75% of the CC, went to Home Depot and bought this bag of Quickrete Play sand. The thing I couldnt stand was how dark it looked as I started to put it in the tank ... almost looks like mud.
I guess my questions are if anyone knows any widely available types or brands of sand I can buy that would be an alternative to SouthDown (very fine and white in color) .........
I did see a type of Sand at HD that was white and fine, but I'm not sure if it would be safe to use. So, what should I look for and NOT look for in shopping for sand for my aquarium?

 

[dreeves]

The thing with the Southdown play sand is not so much the granule size or color...it is the fact it is not silca based sand. Silca based sand leech silcates into your tank as the water is flowing across it.
I am not 100% sure, but I do believe the Quickrete play sand is silca based.

 

[hookedonreefs]

**WARNING** Did alot of research on HD sands... Quikcrete (sp) definately has silicated in it. I woud remove it if you can. I don't know about alternatives. I am fortunate enough to live near the packaging plant of southdown (located in Easton PA). I'm thinking about working with them and "the place the pets go" (I don't want to use the stores name) to get southdown shipped too the west coast at a reasonable price. Good luck, I would get rid of the quickcrete.

 

[thomas712]

I think there is a misconception here. If we are talking about silica sand that is like 99% quartz sand then it is ok to use. Quartz or SiO2 is what your glass in the aquarium is made from.
If thats a bad thing then most of us are in trouble. I have not checked the quickcreat sand out myself but do know that many have used it with success, they just don't like the brown color.
Thomas

 

[slick]

I have 150 lbs of quickrete play sand in my tank. It is toped by 60lbs of carib sea ls. If you want personal experience then I'm telling you it will work and it will be fine. IMO

 

[carsgirlsnfish]

i have quickrete play sand in two of my tanks and it is fine. i saw some that had silica and the other didn't. there was also a brown color and a bright white color