playsand kinds that are ok.

[arizona reefer]

i know downsouth is ok for a fish tank,but i cant find any of that. there is a playsand at home depot that looks like white sand is this ok or is it like a synthetic product that could harm my tank?

 

[malkore]

it's southdown, or old castle. anything else is most likely silica sand...and not ideal.

Basically, if it's about $3 a 50lb bag, it's the wrong stuff. It should be more like $10 a 50lb bag for argonite sand.

 

[arizona reefer]

whats silica mean? sorry if its a stupid question.

 

[malkore]

there are 2 kinds of play sand basically. silica and argonite. silica is very sharp and fine grained, and has NO buffering ability.
argonite sand is 'softer' and will slowly dissolve over time adding carbonate hardness (buffering)

There's a lot of debate, but most of the people that I talk to that seem to really know what they're doing will warn you not to use silica based sand. it doesn't buffer, it compacts and could create toxic gas pockets...and frankly, its NOT what is in the ocean.