Pool sand vs Play sand vs Construction sand !!!!

[jpappy789]

So which one guys ?!?!

- pool sand doesn't change the pH but it it's white and can damage the gills
- play sand has the color(natural) that I want but doesn't have the texture(too small grain)
- construction sand(my favorite) has the color and texture(sugar grain) that I want but I don't know how safe it is

So again....which one, I really need some ideas as I need to start the tank ASAP......

Thanks a lot guys, really appreciate it.

I don't know where you're getting that info...I've never had issues with PFS. And it definitely can run in darker colors.

 

[ducatigirl]

ALOT of people use pool filter sand...maybe make a new thread asking how safe is it?
See what others think?
My fish put it in their mouth and throw it around making sand castles....

 

[jpappy789]

Yep, my multis moved it around extensively.

 

[sorberj]

By construction sand are you talking about the stuff that comes in big tubes? has anyone used it for planted tanks or with bottom dwellers?

 

[Rollinondubz200]

pfs all the way its cheap it packs down nice and dosent get sucked up into the pump as easly as the play sand.. i wont do nothing but pool filter sand now.

 

[SubRosa]

Whether construction sand will mess with your pH depends on where you live. Mined building sand is rarely transported long distances, but normally mined relatively locally. If you live in Florida you can bet that your sand is limestone from fossilized reefs. If you live where granite is the predominant stone your building sand will probably be granite. If you want to know just drop some of the sand in a bit of vinegar and if it fizzes it's limestone and will buffer the water and possibly raise pH. If not it won't affect pH.

 

[dorkfish]

ALOT of people use pool filter sand...maybe make a new thread asking how safe is it?
See what others think?
My fish put it in their mouth and throw it around making sand castles....

I've heard this to (that it can be harmful to the gills), but my sand sifting goby (SW) puts this stuff through his gills all day, so I think he would show some signs of distress... and I would think fishes which have no need to play with sand wouldn't touch it if it was doing much harm.

It does not add silicates to the water, this I know...

 

[Alexpatrascu]

By construction sand are you talking about the stuff that comes in big tubes? has anyone used it for planted tanks or with bottom dwellers?

The one that I'm talking about comes in regular 50 pounds sand bags....

I think I'll go to HomeDepot and take a sample for testing(TDS, pH...)

 

[Alexpatrascu]

So I went and got a sample and the only change I found was in the TDS: from 150 to 220 ppm....

Here is the sand(my favorite):

 

[ducatigirl]

ALOT of people use pool filter sand...maybe make a new thread asking how safe is it?
See what others think?
My fish put it in their mouth and throw it around making sand castles....

I just took a video of him...pool filter sand mixed with river sand...it never used to be mixed up.lol
no damage to his gills.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gTThoHApIw