pool filter sand that is safe for aquarium help

[Ulu]

Have any of you tried just sifting the sand through a plastic screen to remove the silt first?

I have done this with play sand and Black Diamond blasting "sand" and it works wonders.
You should wear a dust mask, but you're not using tons of water and splashing things.

After sifting, the sand was clean enough to just put in the tank.
Even BDBS which everyone says is oily? Well that oil sticks to the silt so you don't get a big scum.

Then I fill the tank, and skim the surface. At the first water change I stir it, drain the water fast, and re-fill the tank.
Then you can polish the water with floss.

I tried this after rinsing 100# of sand on my patio with water in the winter.
Instead I sifted it in the garage. Much nicer.

 

[PYRU]

I think leslies is the best. Its heavy enough not to get blown around.

Quikcrete works to but is fine. I've already killed one aquaclear impeller with it

 

[Ulu]

I have never bought pool filter sand because every bag I saw said that it contained some bacteriacide or similar.

Is it easy just to flush that stuff out, or are you guys finding sand without this in it?

 

[komshiya]

Does anyone have issues with their water not staying clear when using pool filter sand?

 

[AnthonyFish20]

Does anyone have issues with their water not staying clear when using pool filter sand?

Have u washed out the sand really good I put all the sand in a bucket and rinsed until water came out clear.

 

[komshiya]

Have u washed out the sand really good I put all the sand in a bucket and rinsed until water came out clear.

I don't have sand in my tanks but was thinking about adding some.

 

[AnthonyFish20]

I don't have sand in my tanks but was thinking about adding some.

If u wash it good ur tank will be 75-80% clear and after a day or 2 it will be 100% most of the time as longs you wash it.

 

[Rollokola]

Dang what do u use so hose doesnt spray to hard on sand?

just a regular garden hose works fine. if you have a nozzle to limit the flow then you can also adjust accordingly. Just don’t have too much sand in the bucket at once.

 

[duanes]

I've been using PFS for over 25 years, I give it a rinse, and use.
And for my rinsing I do a water change siphoning the old water into a bucket of 10lbs or so of sand and dump the cloudy water in the yard, accomplishing both tasks at the same time.
The 6 ft tank below was set up only a few days before the pic was taken, it has a total of only 50lbs of PFS as substrate.

I got the sand at a local abrasives dealer in Milwaukee $5 for a 50lb bag, he also supplies many bonsai keepers and a number of LFSs in the area, and has any grades, colors and types of substrate..

 

[AnthonyFish20]

just a regular garden hose works fine. if you have a nozzle to limit the flow then you can also adjust accordingly. Just don’t have too much sand in the bucket at once.

A little late lol my tank is running and everything I did just use garden hose wroked fine.