PFS would be my choice too. I've used playsand before and ended up with a rock hard sandbar attached to the bottom of one of my tanks. It's also very dirty before you clean it. PFS was clean straight from the bag. It didn't even cloud the tanks.
Switching to sand... Quickrete Play Sand or All Purpose?
- Thread starter cohazard
- Start date
PFS would be my choice too. I've used playsand before and ended up with a rock hard sandbar attached to the bottom of one of my tanks. It's also very dirty before you clean it. PFS was clean straight from the bag. It didn't even cloud the tanks.
Keep in mind that Quickrete doesn't have just one quarry that they get their sand from. They have them all over the place to lower shipping costs. I would gather that this would be the case for most big name companies. So, the sand available at a CA. hardware store wont be the same as the sand available here in OH.
I used the AP sand in my tank and am contemplating removing it. It's too fine. It's almost the same size as play sand and I have a hard time getting plants to stay put. And to top it off, I have issues with never ending (it seems) diatoms. Over a month and still have em everywhere. They mainly cover the sand turning my nearly white substrate an ugly color of brown. I guess, if I am going to change it, I should do so soon, before I get fish.
Just my 2 cents.
Regards,
DeMonZ
I used the AP sand in my tank and am contemplating removing it. It's too fine. It's almost the same size as play sand and I have a hard time getting plants to stay put. And to top it off, I have issues with never ending (it seems) diatoms. Over a month and still have em everywhere. They mainly cover the sand turning my nearly white substrate an ugly color of brown. I guess, if I am going to change it, I should do so soon, before I get fish.
Just my 2 cents.
Regards,
DeMonZ
Correct.
Most of it isn't true sand. Its aggregate thats crushed into smaller sizes. Rock. Pebble. Pea Stone. Sand.
And like I said.... IT'S ALL SILICA
Pool filter sand may be a couple dollars more but may need rinsing at all. I got mine from Leslie's and put it straight in the tank- $8 and change for a 50lb bag.
i bought 80lb bag of pool filter sand from local pool&spa store for $10. There's usually a few diff colors to choose from. I pre rinsed mine before i put it in the tank, although it was surprisingly clean and didnt take very long at all.
I recommend rinsing anything before you put it in your tank, just as a common safety practise.
I recommend rinsing anything before you put it in your tank, just as a common safety practise.
You have a point there...
The stuff I bought as "play sand" is grey color, and the grain size is consistent. Only time will tell I guess, but I doubt this will turn into a rock hard sand bar, especially because I'm throwing in MTS's.
