>$40 a bag aragonite for only $2.57<

[JerkyBob]

Yeap, you heard right; the same sand you pay 40 bux for at the lfs is only $2.57 at Walmart. It is put out by OldCastle and they sell it under the name of "Garden Basics" play sand. So now you can buy yourself that nice expensive set of lights youve been drooling over.......

Jerky Bob :dance

[OrionGirl]

Ummm...yeah...And it used to be marketed as Southdown. Sorry, but this isn't really new info. :)

[JerkyBob]

I didnt say it was news for you veterans but only meant that maybe some of the newbies didnt know it. I believe this is the newbies forum. And if I can help save people money why not tell them where they can get it. Didnt mean to come inside your bubble.

[OrionGirl]

We veterans mention this each time we encourage someone to setup a sand bed. Sorry--I really wasn't trying to be rude.

[sfxer02]

How much live sand should you layer on top of a DSB to seed it? Greetings from J-ville,nc Jerkybob!!

Thanks in advance

[knowthemath]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about aragonite sand in SW VA. Unfortunately, Wallie-World did not have there gardening supplies out yet. This morning I stopped by and there it was ...... Old Castle Sand under the Wal-Mart name.

There's several newbies in Bluefield that appreciate your post.;)

[Turbo]

I did the same thing. Read this post last night and went to Wallie-world at 1:00 this morning. They didnt have all of there garden stuff out either and no sand. Ill just have to keep a lookout. How so you know it is from Old Castle? Does it say it on the bag somewhere? Could someone post a pic of their tank with this sand in it? Just curious.

[JerkyBob]

thanks for the great replies, all except onion girls that is. As a fellow newbie myself I try and find the best deals out there and if I can help any of you I will do my darndest. I have put my bed between 3-4 inches deep, but one of the vets on here can tell you better the whys and so forth about bacteria. Anyhow this is a great place to learn about this exciting hobby. I do know that onion girl and a couple of other people tell us to use the sand but not all lowes and home depots have it. Walmart on the other hand will probably carry it because of their shipping lanes across the country. and oh yeah greetings to you too sfxer02. :)

The 1 the only: The Jerky Bob:dance

[JerkyBob]

also with the old castle sand you will probably want to mix in some live sand from the lfs or cycled substrate from a fellow aquarists tank. I believe about 20 %. At least that is what I did. And last but not least I also put a diy plenum in my tank underneath all the sand a very cool project that is if you like playing with pvc and fiberglass screen:D

The Jerky Bob

[knowthemath]

The bag says Old Castle with there PA address directly under the Wal-mart address.

I put a live sand activator from GARF www.garf.org in with my sand. These guys were great. They are not big on DSB, but I've talked with others who have bought GARF's Grunge and were quite pleased with the DSB combined with the Grunge activator. Unfortunately, I paid quite a bit more for my aragonite sand than what I would have had to pay if I had waited a couple of weeks.:( Such is life. I guess this is where we say that we have to just roll with the tide.:)

[OrionGirl]

A) I apologized for being rude, so anything further is your problem. I suggest you get over it. Your initial post reads as snotty and like this was a bit of info the rest of us just hadn't clued in on...My reply was more teasing than anything else.

B) It is Oriongirl.

Thanks.

[JerkyBob]

A. I have no problems only challenges. My initial post was not at all snotty, but just wanted to let the newbies know exactly where they could go to get the sand... and as several newbies told me after reading my post , rushed to walmart and it was like 0100 in the morning. So obviously it was appreciated and why you had a problem with me posting it is way beyond me and really I could care less.

B. Yes I know its Oriongirl..... but I kinda like On ion girl better... but hey whats in a name... right ?

Have a great day.... O r iongirl

btw I used to go through cheyenne wy twice weekly.... love that part of the country.... does the wind ever stop blowing????


The One... The Only...
The Jerky Bob :dance

[as40]

Don't want to get in the middle of a fight and get slugged, but...

:thud:

JerkyBob, thank you for the post about the sand. It was/is very informative and helpful. I'm sure a lot of noobs will benifit from it. :) However, I don't think from reading the postings that OrionGirl had a problem with it; like she said, she was mainly teasing. Maybe I'm just drunk (oops, should I be posting that? ;) ), but...

She did apoligize.

I would kiss and make up, all'y'all. :emb:

JerkyBob, OrionGirl has helped me out more than I can tell in my struggles to get my tank going, as well as many others. I think that's what we all are trying to do for people on here. I try and give my two cents where it'll help people out. Little as I know... But still... And I know that's what you were doing too. Anyway, I'll shut up now. But I think we should all keep it civil and end it now. Thanks to all for reading and posting! Cheers!

[DEmigh]

I'm grateful that you posted the info about WalMart's sand. I'm will go there soon and see if they market it in Oklahoma. Thank you very much. However...

Originally posted by JerkyBob
but hey whats in a name... right ?
So you won't mind if I address you as JerkyBob?

As I'm writing this, I see that your post count is 8. In three of those eight posts, you've gone out of your way to insult one of this site's most respected members. OrionGirl has posted about a thousand times to your one, and helped many people in the process.

OrionGirl apologized (unnecessarily IMO) for a slight that existed solely in your mind. Your response was to speak about her derogatorily, in the third person no less. She has consistently dealt with you in a civil way, and you've answered her civility with rudeness.

Originally posted by JerkyBob
I have no problems only challenges.
Your "challenge" is that you don't seem to realize you're way out of line.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

[johnnyxxl]

everyone let it drop, the whole thing was meant as a help maybe he has not read the posts elsewhere about the sand. I keep wondering if I can go the local quarry here and buy sand from them? its like 5 dollars a truck load.

[OrionGirl]

Friends call me Oniongirl. When you're doing it to be insulting, it's rude. Should we end up friends, I have no problem with it.

Quarry sand will work, but often is not 'clean'--ie, it may contain impurities that you don't want introduced into your tank. The packaged sands sold for landscaping have been cleaned to avoid introducing 'things' while retaining the small particle sizes best for bacteria. Cleaning the quarry sand yourself would eliminate a lot of those, I think. Baking it might work--but only for organics. Many of the potential inorganic pollutants would remain.

[greeneyedlady]

Just to answer an earlier question here I used only 5 lbs of live sand to seed my base sand...............Although they say if you use live rock it isn't really necessary because the critters on the live rock will seed the sand bed for you in time.........Another money saving tip for anybody who hasn't heard in the past


http://www.hirocks.com/


you can buy base rock and then seed with live rock so that you will not have to spend as much money....as base rock is cheaper than live rock.................

for my 75g I bought the 60lbs of base rock and then bought 30lbs of live rock to seed much less expensive that way.....

although it does take time for the base rock to grow the coraline algae, it was worth it to me for the savings.

[knowthemath]

I just received base rock from Hi Rock. It has wonderful holes and valleys. I had 2 really large pieces and several larger than a softball. Since I'm aquascaping a 30 g, I had to do a little creative chiseling. I'm pleased with the results and the rock.

[JerkyBob]

I guess everyone is taking everything serious on here. so no more wit. :confused: just let the thread die ..... if i helped anyone im glad :) if i seemed abusive to anyone that was not my intention and i apologize :bowing: hope the thread ends here.... :)

[DEmigh]

I apologize for the bulldog-like nature of my post to this thread, and for my part in creating the impression that some sort of "flame war" was in progress :emb:

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming :D

[Turbo]

Jerkybob...hey, do you have a pic of your tank with the wallie-world sand in it? Just wondering on is texture(size) and color?

[JerkyBob]

no i dont have a pic.... but it looks very nice........ i wasnt disappointed at all....

[JerkyBob]

also meant to say it is whitish in color and the size of sugar grains. looks nice

[greeneyedlady]

Turbo, Wally's is where I bought my sand as well;) And it is what you are looking for :p

[JerkyBob]

think everyone will be happy with the wally sand :D

[ben72227]

thanks for the info. jerkybob - i had no idea that walmart was selling the stuff under their name.

Wow...a flame war on aquariacentral?!?...with oriongirl!?!...:shake:

[JerkyBob]

youre welcome :and once and for all there is NO flame war or hard feelings or anything negative between myself and Oriongirl.... GEEZ



Jerky Bob

[Marvin]

can anyone confirm this Oldcastle/Playsand in any Walmart on the west coast?

[frosty]

It doesnt appear to be in the midwest (nebraska). They bags are labeled the same but the distributer is Waupaca and its a darker color. It does look like excellent sand, but not argonite. I bought some anyway, when I move to my new tank going to mix it in with my argonite. Anyone ever done this? Does it look alright?

[JerkyBob]

if it is oldcatle it will say old castle on the bottom or side of the bag in little letters......


Jerky Bob

[biogirl361]

so does this 3 dollar walmart sand have all the same desireable properties as the more expensive carib-sea kind advertises? that is, automatically buffering ph to 8.2, buffering calcium to 350-450, fostering nitrate reducing bacteria, etc etc?

[LittlePuff]

I had no idea that Walmart carried it. Thanks for the info :bowing:


Kim

[Ghoti]

Garden Basic Play Sand at Walmart is packaged by Old Castle however it is not aragonite. It is silica. Old Castle is a huge aggregate company and sell all types of sand. This sand is sterilized but definately is not aragonite. It doesn't react with acid. Wish it was as they have all kinds. I had to take it back. Before putting it your tank make sure it reacts with acid and then you will know it will buffer your tank.

[pl*co]

Ok, let me get this straight.... I have been thinking about putting sand in my tank to create one sandy area (for the firemouth), while leaving the rest of the tank gravel. I like my pH where it is, so if I use the Walmart sand (and it being inert), there should be no change to the pH. Where as using argonite, live sand or calci-sand would create a buffer, but raise the pH. Correct? Thanks.

[kcmo lawman]

I had no idea that Walmart carried it. Thanks for the info :bowing:


Kim

If you happen to find it there in MO. would you let me know please? I am in kansas, but am about an hour away from a Wally World and not planning on going there anytime soon. However, if they have it there in Missouri I would more than likely think they would have it here as well and might just make a trip to check it out. :)

Thanks,

Bradd

[Ghoti]

Yeap, you heard right; the same sand you pay 40 bux for at the lfs is only $2.57 at Walmart. It is put out by OldCastle and they sell it under the name of "Garden Basics" play sand. So now you can buy yourself that nice expensive set of lights youve been drooling over.......

Jerky Bob :dance

Jerky Bob
I'm curious as to why you believe this product is Aragonite? Did you test it, read about it on another site or just see the Old Castle name on it and assumed it was the same product. I have been trying to locate aragonite play sand at Home Depots and similar stores throughout the SE to no avail. (TN, NC, SC, GA) I was excited about the possibility of Walmart carrying it. I was going to buy 20 bags but decided to buy 3 bags as a trial. I'm glad I did. The bags I tested were "Garden Basics Play Sand" bought at Walmart and package by Old Castle in PA. The sand I tested was definately silica sand and not Aragonite. The guy that started a dialogue about "Garden Basics Play Sand" on another thread apologized for spreading bad info without first testing the sand. He just passed along the info without verifying it. Is that the case here or do you have some evidence that it is indeed aragonite?

[firehunter451]

when i started my tank in kansas i was advised by orion girl that quik creat sand (not concret mix just made by the same people) that i found at home dpt. for $2 a for a 50lb bag mixed 50/50 with live argonite sand would work well. (the qiuk creat sand is baked and screaned washed) my tank has been runing with the sand to let the quik creat sand grow backteria. i have been very pleased. i have had no cemistry problems and it looks great. i saved around $150 doing this. i also asked a good friend who owns an lfs and he said that no the qiuk creat sand will not buffer the ph however with as much sand as i have (2lb per gal) that the 70 lbs of expensive sand will be more than i need for ph. also that once the quik creat sand has the backteria in it i will never know the diffreance. i am very new to salt water but this has worked very well and i thank orion girl for the advise. :bowing:
( i found that qiuk creat sand was easer to find in the midwest than castle)

hope this helps

[LittlePuff]

kcmo,

I never looked for it. I decided to go bare-bottom. Sorry I won't be of any help on that one.


Kim

[spawn]

If you happen to find it there in MO. would you let me know please? I am in kansas, but am about an hour away from a Wally World and not planning on going there anytime soon. However, if they have it there in Missouri I would more than likely think they would have it here as well and might just make a trip to check it out. :)

Thanks,

Bradd


Hey, if you happen to find some let me know as well!! I'm on the Kansas side of the border and have been looking for the last several days. Walmart put out their play sand but I am just skeptical of it.
In a desperate attempt I did google southdown inc. Seems another company has bought them out. Cenex? Waiting for a call back from one of their sales reps to see if they still carry a product similar to that only under a different name. Seems that southdown inc was involved in a bunch of enviromental protection issues/lawsuits and this new company bought them out.

So yeah, back to wal mart. Does anyone know what this sand is made of this year?

[spawn]

Have called around to a few more rock suppliers and I MIGHT be able to find something but won't know until I get the chance to get out there.
The stuff at wal mart doesn't look good and isn't really white anymore. At least at the ones here. First pic is the bag face. 2nd pic is the contents in reference to bright white.
I'll test it on sunday night or monday when I get back from holiday to see exactly what it is.

http://img202.exs.cx/img202/3294/picture56az.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
http://img202.exs.cx/img202/9660/dsc000023tx.th.jpg (http://img202.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img202&image=dsc000023tx.jpg)

The company is River City Landscape Supply Inc

[firehunter451]

well what i have gone with is a silica based sand. from all of the reserch that i have done and the advise i have receved it isnt going to make a diffrence. i mixed it with a small portion of the live sand. the tank is cycling now, i have had no problams so far. i think that the idea that a silica based sand will make huge algie bloom a myth. if you think about it isnt that what glass is made of. the only reason to go with the other sand is for your preferance in color. now i am new at this and i could be wrong.

the silica is what the wal-mart play sand is made of