Silicates in sand?

[bry1105]

I am having trouble with diatoms which I have learned is caused by silicates and/or phospahte. I use Caribsea Super Naturals sand for substrate. Does anyone know if this sand has silicates in it which are feeding the diatoms? What sand does not have silicates in it?

 

[aqua_chem]

Pretty much all sands will have silicates in it. It's really just a matter of waiting the diatoms out.

 

[Matt68005]

Just dont breathe in the dust. It should'nt harm your fish.

 

[Daxhua]

Pool filter sand, play sand, and I think all aquarium safe sands are silica sands and its insoluble in water. Glass aquariums are made from silica sand so the sand you put in your tank is not the cause of diatoms. I've had diatoms suddenly appear in my tank before and I noticed that it seems to happen every time somebody does maintenance on my apt complex water system.