As H3D and I have said, there is NOT a problem with untreated pool filter sand. It is the treated pool filter sand that IS a problem because it is treated with chemicals that are toxic to fish.
:wall: :silly:
Pool Filter Sand...Dangerous?!?
- Thread starter enrique4jc
- Start date
As H3D and I have said, there is NOT a problem with untreated pool filter sand. It is the treated pool filter sand that IS a problem because it is treated with chemicals that are toxic to fish.
:wall: :silly:
Let your fingers do the walking and look in the local yellow pages. There has to be at least one other pool/spa place other than the one you went to. Call and ask if they carry both treated and untreated filter sand.
Silica based pool filter sand, about #20 mesh is a good way to go.
Ultrafine sand gets you into problems w/ cloudy water, irritation of mucous membranes (us & fish) etc. etc.
DE (diatomaceous earth) is also very fine and at least as abrasive as very fine silica sand, and it therefore to be avoided (there's also the carbonate leaching to consider in the long run).
Ultrafine sand gets you into problems w/ cloudy water, irritation of mucous membranes (us & fish) etc. etc.
DE (diatomaceous earth) is also very fine and at least as abrasive as very fine silica sand, and it therefore to be avoided (there's also the carbonate leaching to consider in the long run).
Whichever kind you get, make sure it doesn't say anything about inhibiting growth or treated for this and that and you should be fine. Also, make sure that it doesn't contain any limestone.
I used Quickrete Medium Grade Contracters sand. But it takes a while to clean out all the finer particles. Its will suck up into the gravel vac also so I just skim the top of the sand off and then run a wire hanger through it to release any potential gas pockets. A ton of MTS helps out also.
