Using non-aquarium dry sand in tank - Aquarium Advice

fulinn · 04-09-2006, 05:08 PM

Ok, went sand shopping today at my local Home depot.

They have "play" sand, white in color. I did the vinegar test and it bubbled away just fine ! Passed a magnet across the the sand, NO sand stuck to the magnet. I was overjoyed as its only 4.95 per 40 # bag.

However, on the bag it stated "Not for use in Aquariums".

This product does contain small amounts of silica.

So, has anyone had the opportunity to use this sand ? Have any thoughts on the warning not to use in aquariums ?

Although I do live in the Northeast, when I asked my local HD for Southdown sand, he said they don't carry it. They only have the brownish "play sand" and this white, red or blue KolorScape Sand.

Thanks for your thoughts

Bonnie

noteworthy · 04-09-2006, 05:35 PM

That sand will be fine. I'm using 160 lbs of all-purpose sand. Its a mix of silica and aragonite.

Brenden · 04-09-2006, 05:39 PM

Sounds good to me.

fulinn · 04-10-2006, 08:48 PM

Thank you to everyone for your help. I have decided I will buy 4 bags of kolorScape Sand.

Any good suggestions for how to rinse so much sand ?

I will post a picture of the bag as soon as I buy it sometime this week, this weekend at the latest.

Bonnie

noteworthy · 04-10-2006, 10:21 PM

Some people say fill up a bucket half full.. and fill with water... the small particles will wash off.. do this several times to get most particles out of the sand. Myself I just dumped my sand in the tank. It wasn't cloudy very long. Cleared up in 1 day.

fulinn · 04-11-2006, 06:00 AM

Noteworthy,

Glad to hear this. I think thats what I'm going to do as well, just dump ( gently ) all the sand in the tank, add my DI water and skim as much "stuff" off the top as I can and let
the rest settle to the bottom.

Thanks !

Bonnie

cmor1701d · 04-11-2006, 10:30 AM

Are you starting a new tank?
The sand will not settle until it is coated with bacteria. You will have sand storm until then. It will be a few days to a week before you can see anything in the tank. As the cycle continues the sand will settle. Be prepared for that.

hackteck · 04-11-2006, 10:32 AM

when i first started my cycle my sand storm lasted about a day or 2

**BillyZ** · 04-11-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmor1701d

Are you starting a new tank?
The sand will not settle until it is coated with bacteria. You will have sand storm until then. It will be a few days to a week before you can see anything in the tank. As the cycle continues the sand will settle. Be prepared for that.

But that really shouldn't be a concern as there shouldn't be anything you need to see during your cycle.

Just be patient and let it settle down. Once it has settled take a new recently purchased from the dollar store turkey baster and use it to flush off what has settled on your live rock, etc. It will make things cloudy again for a maybe a day, but again, nothing you're really obscuring.

In terms of rinsing, I would not rinse your sand. A variety of particle size in your substrate is usually considered beneficial to the bacteria and fauna that live in your substrate.

john0087 · 04-11-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

when i first started my cycle my sand storm lasted about a day or 2

Really...I was going to use this method when I transfer to a larger tank. I was going to mix my current LS with play sand.....oh well, good to know..

04-09-2006, 05:08 PM	#1
fulinn Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4	Using non-aquarium dry sand in tank Ok, went sand shopping today at my local Home depot. They have "play" sand, white in color. I did the vinegar test and it bubbled away just fine ! Passed a magnet across the the sand, NO sand stuck to the magnet. I was overjoyed as its only 4.95 per 40 # bag. However, on the bag it stated "Not for use in Aquariums". This product does contain small amounts of silica. So, has anyone had the opportunity to use this sand ? Have any thoughts on the warning not to use in aquariums ? Although I do live in the Northeast, when I asked my local HD for Southdown sand, he said they don't carry it. They only have the brownish "play sand" and this white, red or blue KolorScape Sand. Thanks for your thoughts Bonnie

04-09-2006, 05:39 PM	#3
Brenden Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 3,878 Images: 32	Sounds good to me. __________________ The fact that no one understands you doesn't make you an artist. If guns kill people...Spoons make Michael Moore fat.

04-11-2006, 10:30 AM	#7
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,833 Images: 43	Are you starting a new tank? The sand will not settle until it is coated with bacteria. You will have sand storm until then. It will be a few days to a week before you can see anything in the tank. As the cycle continues the sand will settle. Be prepared for that. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Dry Ferts and Sand	IceH2O	Freshwater & Brackish - Planted Tanks	1	03-27-2006 08:09 PM
Tahitian Moon Black Sand/ Moonlight White Aquarium Sand	angels004	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	13	06-07-2005 08:44 PM
Aquarium sand advice	russrimm	Cichlid Discussion	5	01-03-2005 04:58 PM
Dry Sand, did I goof?	dinotrex	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	10	03-19-2004 09:11 AM
play sand vs. aquarium sand	ohio reefer	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	4	10-15-2003 12:12 PM

04-09-2006, 05:35 PM	#2
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	That sand will be fine. I'm using 160 lbs of all-purpose sand. Its a mix of silica and aragonite.

04-10-2006, 08:48 PM	#4
fulinn Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4	Thank you to everyone for your help. I have decided I will buy 4 bags of kolorScape Sand. Any good suggestions for how to rinse so much sand ? I will post a picture of the bag as soon as I buy it sometime this week, this weekend at the latest. Bonnie

04-10-2006, 10:21 PM	#5
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	Some people say fill up a bucket half full.. and fill with water... the small particles will wash off.. do this several times to get most particles out of the sand. Myself I just dumped my sand in the tank. It wasn't cloudy very long. Cleared up in 1 day.

04-11-2006, 06:00 AM	#6
fulinn Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4	Noteworthy, Glad to hear this. I think thats what I'm going to do as well, just dump ( gently ) all the sand in the tank, add my DI water and skim as much "stuff" off the top as I can and let the rest settle to the bottom. Thanks ! Bonnie

04-11-2006, 10:32 AM	#8
hackteck Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: atlanta,ga Posts: 677	when i first started my cycle my sand storm lasted about a day or 2