Kolorscape sand at Home Depot? - Aquarium Advice

ChosenOne · 10-05-2005, 09:51 AM

Well guys this is my first post here and my first stab at a saltwater set-up. I have been reading on this forum for about 2 weeks and learned about southdown/Oldcastle sand. I've look at all the Home Depots around here and couldn't find it. Walmarts and Kmarts, everywhere. Well last night I stopped at the last Home Depot closest to my home and found sand that fizzed in Vinegar. The package said it was by Oldcastle and distributed by another company. I have a bad memory but I think the label on the bad was Kolorscape Playsand. The guy at Home depot let me take a handful from an already open bag. Well it fizzed. Its white and looks close to sugar. My question is the bag said it contains silicates and is harmful if breathed in. Is this O.[acronym:aa7a34ad33="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:aa7a34ad33] for my fish or should my search go on for the real sand everybody has? I'll tell you guys the Home Depot in Massachusetts if anyone needs its. They had a couple dozen bags left.

pelochas · 10-05-2005, 10:11 AM

i think you should go for it

indy · 10-05-2005, 10:46 AM

It's fine, no reason to keep searching.

ChosenOne · 10-05-2005, 01:28 PM

Alright I'll get some more bags. If anyone wants it there at the Home Depot on Gold Star Blvd in Worcester.

**ellisz** · 10-05-2005, 10:36 PM

It is fine but is silica sand. It won't give you the buffering capabilities that aragonite does and it may have sharp edges.

Can be used though.

Scottm · 10-05-2005, 11:43 PM

it fizzed so obviously it will buffer the water to some degree.

**ellisz** · 10-06-2005, 08:16 AM

I think aragonite sand will practilly disolve in the vinegar test. I have read of silica sand fizzing a bit on some occasions depending on the make up of the sand.

ChosenOne · 10-06-2005, 11:18 AM

It said that it might contain small traces of silica. I left it in a cup with vinegar and when it stopped fizzing dumped it out and added more Vinegar. Well after almost a whole bottle of vinegar the sand was half the amount of what I put in. So it's dissolving.

pmedley2070 · 10-07-2005, 04:39 AM

I contacted Old Castle in Delaware. They advised that the sand was mined from the Delware beaches and is safe for aquariums. I bought 200 lbs and it's been in my tank for two months witn no problems.

Pete

ChosenOne · 10-07-2005, 12:22 PM

GREAT!

Was it hard for you to clean the sand? Or did you throw it right in? It took me a good while to rinse it out in a 5 gallon bucket. Really milky at first.

Another question, I don't really want to start another thread.

I already have an established freshwater tank. Can I just take the filter from that tank and cycle with the pre-existing bacteria? Or saltwater cycle is entirely different and has to be started from scratch?

10-05-2005, 09:51 AM	#1
ChosenOne Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Central MA Posts: 42 Images: 1	Kolorscape sand at Home Depot? Well guys this is my first post here and my first stab at a saltwater set-up. I have been reading on this forum for about 2 weeks and learned about southdown/Oldcastle sand. I've look at all the Home Depots around here and couldn't find it. Walmarts and Kmarts, everywhere. Well last night I stopped at the last Home Depot closest to my home and found sand that fizzed in Vinegar. The package said it was by Oldcastle and distributed by another company. I have a bad memory but I think the label on the bad was Kolorscape Playsand. The guy at Home depot let me take a handful from an already open bag. Well it fizzed. Its white and looks close to sugar. My question is the bag said it contains silicates and is harmful if breathed in. Is this O.[acronym:aa7a34ad33="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:aa7a34ad33] for my fish or should my search go on for the real sand everybody has? I'll tell you guys the Home Depot in Massachusetts if anyone needs its. They had a couple dozen bags left.

10-05-2005, 10:46 AM	#3
indy Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Omicron Persia 8 Posts: 677 Images: 1	It's fine, no reason to keep searching. __________________ 112g main with 29g sump w/sqwd 150+lbs [acronym:aa165e6962="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:aa165e6962] 6"[acronym:aa165e6962="Deep Sand Bed"]dsb[/acronym:aa165e6962] PRIZM skimmer hehehehe Clarkii clown x 1 chromis x4 green BTA Big tank O'death

10-05-2005, 01:28 PM	#4
ChosenOne Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Central MA Posts: 42 Images: 1	Alright I'll get some more bags. If anyone wants it there at the Home Depot on Gold Star Blvd in Worcester. __________________ 46 gallon bowfront 30 Lbs liverock 30 lbs base rock 60 lbs sand 2 aquaclear 50 powerheads coralife super skimmer 65 pair of true perculas

10-05-2005, 10:36 PM	#5
ellisz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Indiana USA Posts: 2,672 Images: 9	It is fine but is silica sand. It won't give you the buffering capabilities that aragonite does and it may have sharp edges. Can be used though. __________________ 180 gal Display, 100 gal basement sump, 33 gal refugium, 3x250 MH, 2x160 VHO actinics, zoos, some softies, LPS & lots of acros and other SPS. 100 gal prop tank plumbed into main system w/ 2x96 PC lights and 1x150 MH,

10-06-2005, 08:16 AM	#7
ellisz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Indiana USA Posts: 2,672 Images: 9	I think aragonite sand will practilly disolve in the vinegar test. I have read of silica sand fizzing a bit on some occasions depending on the make up of the sand. __________________ 180 gal Display, 100 gal basement sump, 33 gal refugium, 3x250 MH, 2x160 VHO actinics, zoos, some softies, LPS & lots of acros and other SPS. 100 gal prop tank plumbed into main system w/ 2x96 PC lights and 1x150 MH,

10-05-2005, 10:11 AM	#2
pelochas Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena, TX Posts: 140 Images: 8	i think you should go for it

10-05-2005, 11:43 PM	#6
Scottm Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: BFE North carolina Posts: 452	it fizzed so obviously it will buffer the water to some degree.

10-06-2005, 11:18 AM	#8
ChosenOne Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Central MA Posts: 42 Images: 1	It said that it might contain small traces of silica. I left it in a cup with vinegar and when it stopped fizzing dumped it out and added more Vinegar. Well after almost a whole bottle of vinegar the sand was half the amount of what I put in. So it's dissolving. __________________ 46 gallon bowfront 30 Lbs liverock 30 lbs base rock 60 lbs sand 2 aquaclear 50 powerheads coralife super skimmer 65 pair of true perculas

10-07-2005, 04:39 AM	#9
pmedley2070 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arnold, Md Posts: 31	Old Castle Playsand I contacted Old Castle in Delaware. They advised that the sand was mined from the Delware beaches and is safe for aquariums. I bought 200 lbs and it's been in my tank for two months witn no problems. Pete

10-07-2005, 12:22 PM	#10
ChosenOne Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Central MA Posts: 42 Images: 1	GREAT! Was it hard for you to clean the sand? Or did you throw it right in? It took me a good while to rinse it out in a 5 gallon bucket. Really milky at first. Another question, I don't really want to start another thread. I already have an established freshwater tank. Can I just take the filter from that tank and cycle with the pre-existing bacteria? Or saltwater cycle is entirely different and has to be started from scratch? __________________ 46 gallon bowfront 30 Lbs liverock 30 lbs base rock 60 lbs sand 2 aquaclear 50 powerheads coralife super skimmer 65 pair of true perculas

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