Sand

[ajg1460]

Is there an alternative to buying sand from a LFS. I want to set up a dsb, but don't like the $$

 

[mobyrock]

Similarly, I've had a lot of people suggest that I get rid of my crushed coral substrate, and get sand instead. I have 210 lbs of Tube Sand (for your car) in my basement. Can I use this sand, or would this be bad for my tank? Link to posts recommending ditching CC

 

[badfish]

i have been going through this also. What you want is southdown/oldcastle sand from Home Depot, it is seasonal and some say has been discontinued. These sands are tropical sands and do not contain silica. However, i have decided to go with the caribsea sand for now since i cant wait, i will only buy two bags (30lb each) and hopefully in the near future Home Depot will get their shippment in. Below is a link to an interesting article on silica sand (some say it is safe but less beneficial). I would probably not use the tube sand, if i were to go with a silica sand i would go with white play sand, found at some home depots, i beleive it is made by a company in Vermont. I would say for you ajg1460, to check all of the Home Depots in your area, and talk to the Garden Dept., to the guy that actually orders the sand and ask him when the Oldcastle, southdown, or yardright tropical sand might come in. Also check the sticky thread in saltwater and reef general discussion, their is a thread called "its playsand season......" its like the third or fourth thread down, people list here when they find some. Good Luck!

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html