Substrate question

[tsdpurdue]

Is it true that you can just use play sand for your substrate. Somehting you would buy form home depot. A guy a lfs told me that I could, and it would be alot cheaper, but I wasnt sure if this woudl be a good idea

 

[hamster_34]

I have heard the same thing, and was thinking of trying it in my 100 gal.... but can you clean it? I use a gravel vac to do my weekly water changes, will a gravel vac clean sand? or will it be too light to clean? anyone have any ideas?

 

[Germanman]

dont use play sand....all but two rare sands sold for playgrounds, homes, or construction have harmful chemicals or things that will mess with the water chemistry.
aragonite is best for the tank. dont go cheep in saltwater because youll regret it later on.
also i worked in a fish store and that was a play to get the customer to set up a "cheaper" tank and then have to come back later and redo the whole tank...i never supported it but my past bosses did...dont believe them.
either that or they are just ignorant or dont care about you or your fish

 

[spinx]

I agree with G-man there. stay away. Rather do it properly to avoid causing yourself trouble down the line. (Aragonite isnt that expensive and it looks spectacular.)