How can I tell if it's argonite or silica sand?

[havefun]

Is it possible to tell by looking at it? I bought some at menards not knowing I needed argonite. I called them and the guy that answered said it was argonite but I would like to know for sure.

TIA

 

[bound_for_obx]

pour some vinigar on it... if it fizzes and foams it's calcium based.

 

[mjvincent]

If the vinegar makes it fizz and maybe slightly dissolving the sand, it is the right kind. If not use it for the driveway or the kids sand box. I could no find any and had to go to LFS and buy the kind at the store and pay LFS price ($27)

 

[havefun]

Cool Thanks! Now I have to go to the grocery store though - we used all of our vinegar last Easter.....

 

[havefun]

OK, it looks more like a glass of 7UP, no foaming though. Is that what I'm looking for?

 

[RMPD109]

If you dumped the sand into the vinager that sounds right. Try pouring a small amount of vinager on some sand. That should give you some fizzing.

 

[havefun]

Thats what I did. Put a small amount of sand in a drinking glass then poured about an inch or so of vinegar. Obviously I want to be positive on this - I hate being a newbie at all this!!!

 

[RMPD109]

that sounds like it is good. I usually use a tsp of sand and enough vinager to wet the sand good.

 

[youronlysin]

If you had some Muriatic acid, youd know for sure.

 

[havefun]

I put less vinegar in and now it is sort of foaming - must be it

Sorry, don't have any Muriatic acid on hand

 

[mjvincent]

Congrats! Now you don't have to buy the expensive stuff at the LFS

 

[bound_for_obx]

Can you get a pic of the bag and post it in this forum...

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=22188&start=200

Also, can you provide the info on which Menards you got it at. I'm sure that Iowa salties and anybody that has a Menards nearby might appreciate the info.