silica sand

[cbster]

Can you use Magnum Blast silica sand in a aquarium? I have a couple bags laying around.

 

[Bosemani Fan]

Yes, You could Sillica sand It Provides a nice color and is easy to clean.

 

[wataugachicken]

is that a kind of sandblasting sand? it is fine if you don't have any bottom dwellers, but fish like loaches, cories, and plecos can get cut up on it since the tiny sand particles are very sharp edged. it'll also damage their barbels (little whiskers) to the point that they may be completely lost from abrasion.

 

[Patricia]

I'd rinse it well, and let it sit in water for a week or two, pouring the water off and replenishing it daily to get as much silica dust out first. Brown algae (aka diatoms) use the excess silica to grow, especially in low-light aquariums, and it will cover everything including plants. I'd recommend that you either use moderate to high light, or plan on getting some Otocinclus to eat the brown algae.

Patricia

 

[RockabillyChick]

i always thought scillica was poisonous. for my hermit crabs, the forum i researched for them on was adamantly against scillica sand because scillica is deadly. they said to use only play sand as its had most of the scillica removed and is intended for use around children in sand boxes.

 

[PumaWard]

I have also never heard of silica sand bothering bottom-dwellers... the particles are so small that I doubt it will hurt them. Silica in sand is also not toxic.