Switching to sand... Quickrete Play Sand or All Purpose?

cohazard

cohazard

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Apr 6, 2004
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So, I finally decided to switch my 180g to sand. I've never used sand until I setup a tank for my nephew and it looks great, so I did a little reading and went to Home Depot today.

I found two kinds, both made by Quickrete: Play Sand, and All Purpose sand.

I've read that a lot of aquarists choose play sand, but I like the brown color of the all purpose sand.

What worries me though is that the All Purpose sand has a warning: "May Contain Crystalline Silica" and I remember reading that silica isn't good for fish, I think.... anyone know more about that?

I'm waiting for your answers before I choose which color to add to my tank.

The grain size looks more consistent on the play sand, so I'll probably just end up using it, but it's just that I prefer the brown color of the all purpose to the grayish-off white of the play sand.

Thanks in advance!
 
I have all purpose in my 60g and hav'nt gave me any problems so far. I like the color of a.p. then play. I use 30 grit.
 
I rinsed a little bit of each and the AP was gross.

It was basically mud with too much of a gradient between grain size. From powder to small gravel size. Not what I'm looking for.

The play sand is grey colored, but looks okay under my tank lights, so I'm going with that.

I may even buy a bag of 'Mexican Beach Pebbles' from Home Depot and put those around the tank.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
SoCalSunset said:
I rinsed a little bit of each and the AP was gross.

It was basically mud with too much of a gradient between grain size. From powder to small gravel size. Not what I'm looking for.

The play sand is grey colored, but looks okay under my tank lights, so I'm going with that.

I may even buy a bag of 'Mexican Beach Pebbles' from Home Depot and put those around the tank.

Thanks for the help guys.
Click to expand...

Do the pebbles where sombreros??? is that why their mexican?:huh:
 
SHK_ATK said:
Do the pebbles where sombreros??? is that why their mexican?:huh:
Click to expand...

No sombreros, but the package reads: "If planning to keep these as pet rocks, remember to feed tacos almost exclusively." j/k

eh... Personally I can't see a difference between what Home Depot is selling as "Mexican pebbles" and what I see at Dana Point, but I guess that's not the point... just that they're round, smooth, dark colored rocks.
 
do they have the Quikrete medium commercial grade sand? it should be there. . . i use it and i really like it. white, but not bright white, and it does have a variety of grain sizes but they're a coarser sand instead of just being lke mud. as far as the silica - as ong as you rinse it well and don't breathe the dust in when it is dry, you and the fish will be fine.
 
I got my pool filter sand at Home Depot; had to search for it back in the garden department with the pool stuff. $5 for a 50 pound bag.

I'm happy with it!
 
all sand and rock is made from silica.


Silica is the most abundant material on the planet.


The reason for the warning? Play sand would be end use homeowner. The AP likely employees of a concrete contractor... therefore requiring the warning (silica dust can lead to silicosis of the lungs)


FWIW, the Play Sand is also full of silica dust. As is an pebble/rock substrate.
 
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