Playsand? Who uses it?

[echoofformless]

Many playsands are too fine of a grain to be used in aquaria. You'll end up with clumping, filter clogging, and often anaerobic conditions if you don't maintenance the bed often.

I always recommend either the pool filter sand, or you can use the Quikrete Medium Sand. That's with a nice medium-coarse texture which is perfect because it won't clog.

And what's more - it's already rinsed and kiln sterilized. You can put it right in the tank with no rinsing at all if you really want.

 

[Chuck Norris]

does anyone have trouble vacuuming their sand? I really want to get some fine grain white sand for my cichlids when i get them their new tank.

 

[is300zx]

I don't really have a problem with vacuuming although a very tiny amount do go down the drain.

Another alternative to play sand is 3M color quartz. Here's more info on it http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=43290

 

[kmgriff72]

Ok, thanks.

 

[TipStylez]

What about silica sand? Cichlid owners use it, and said its easyer to use then playsand because playsand has more clay and random sized grains that harder to rinse.

Im planing to get the silica sand today, so if anyone can answer my question asap then that would be great.

Thanks

 

[Rallysman]

if you arent keeping rays or scaleless fish (clown loaches) that could be scratched easily it should be ok.

 

[TipStylez]

Ok, well heres a stupid question.

Are puffers (spotted & fig 8) scaleless fish?

 

[coupedefleur]

What about silica sand?

Silica sand is dangerous for sandblasting. You don't want to breathe it, but if you are just pouring it into a bucket and rinsing it you should be in no danger.

When you're sandblasting the sand forms a cloud that gets in everything. I think the grains fragment as they hit whatever you're blasting and get even smaller.

 

[TipStylez]

^Yeah i know about that part. I used sandblasting to blast car parts.

But i was just wondering if its safe for the fish. I read almost everywhere that its safe so i guess.

And i picked up a 100pound back last night, and got it for cheap!

The price tag was $6.XX, but there was no price tag on this bag, and the guy at homedepot just said its $3 =]

 

[FreakIndeed]

This tank I just converted from a 29 long a little over a week ago. It was half new sand and half established gravel until last night when I removed the gravel and smoothed out the sand. It's still very weak on decoration and only has a few fish in it (see sig). I really like the playsand. I still need to get quite a few more plants to make the Silver Dollars more comfortable. I'm also looking to get a school of a larger tetra of some sort.

Rinse your sand really, really, well. Don't be alarmed when even after rinsing it, your water turns very cloudy. Mine did, but it all settled down in a couple days.