Yet Another Sand Question

[Splash29]

Hi all,

Not necessary a newb, used to visit/post to this board several years ago and figure I'd start here. Had a 90g FOWLR back then and had to leave it (and my ex, but that's a story for another time). Thought I was done with SW, but just like a bad dream...I'm back! This time, I've got a 55g that will be a FOWLR and a DSB.

Can't seem to find the right type of sand. Went to HD, they had something called Pavestone...and Lowe's had Quikcrete. Both were play packing sand, color is darker than what I remembered. Petco has a sand that I think might work, but I wanted to run it by everyone before buy it. Here's the link: Nature's Ocean I'm open to any other suggestions...


Thanks in advance for your help!

Kim
DFW, Texas
~~~
Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in. - Michael Corleone

 

[Sonicblast12]

Lowes should carry premium play sand, which is a lighter color than the quickrete sand. It's amost white, and about $3.00 for a 50 pound bag. That's what I use, and I'm happy with it.

 

[Lorna]

Well you may not find too much playsand as it is getting away from that season.....as to the petco sand....it is fine and really isn't any cheaper than Carib-Sea or any other aragonite substrates. What you want to make sure that the grain size is sugar fine as the finer the grain the less depth needed to create the same denitrification......I know people that have used Quikcrete but the playsand is better.....there are pros and cons for silca based versus aragonite based but that is a whole different topic.

 

[cbayer]

Is there a big difference in live sand and the premium play sand. I bought some live sand and now its dirty with all the rock changes I have done so I was thinking about adding some more sand on top to make it look better but I dont want to spend $30 on live sand. What do you think?

 

[Colombian_Shark]

Go ahead and use the cheaper play sand. Live sand may include bacteria, but the same bacteria will grow in play sand without having a lot of money spent. If you know someone with an established aquarium (make sure it's free of disease), a cup or two of their sand would help to speed the process; live rock will also help.

 

[xsdbs]

lowes / home depot sand

if you go to lowes or home depot in the concrete area you will see the quick crete sand. they do have what they call premiun sand and did buy this rinsed it down to get the muddiness out. poured it in a little over a cup at a time. BADDD , the water was nerky for about 3 days using a fluval fx5 and poly fill to trap the mudd. Someone posted here about some kiln dried sand available at the local stores, I went back to look for this sand and they do have it. I bought a couple bags for just over $10. ( much better than the $100 for the same weight of carib sea or other land/ live sand. Ask and employee for the fine/ medium white sand by quick crete. I mixed the play sand which was darker with the new sand and some carrib sea live sand and the sand is really nice in color.