so i would assume the more coarse sand would be better for sinking and not getting up in the filter?
Forget Play Sand, Use Pool Filter Sand
- Thread starter plecostic
- Start date
so i would assume the more coarse sand would be better for sinking and not getting up in the filter?
Yeah, and mostly a matter of preference. I actually think pool filter sand is too fine also, so I buy coarser sand from a local rock yard. PFS is 20-30# mesh I think. Play sand is even higher. I use 12# mesh in my tanks.
They are most certainly not the same. Sure they are both sand but playsand is dirtier, much dirtier and lighter and has extra stones thrown in, my tank has never been more clearer now that I use the PFS and the fish can go crazy all they want and the sand doesn't get kicked up everywhere like it does with playsand. I'll have to check out any rock yards in my area to see what kind of sand they have. PFS is most excellent.
Cleanier or dirtier doesn't really mean it's any different. One is pre-washed and the other isn't. The ONLY differnce, like I said, is the mesh/grain size. Play sand is finer, which you attribute to being 'lighter'. Pool filter sand is coarser. Sand is sand is sand. Only difference is the size of the grain.
This isn't 100% true. Just depends on where you live. When I lived down in Florida I got my PFS for 4$ a 50lb bag at HD and Lowe's.
Again not 100% true. Depends on where you live again. When I lived in Florida I purchased POOL FILTER SAND in the pool section at HD and Lowe's. I just moved to Michigan the beginning of this month and stopped into HD and Lowe's just today and they didn't carry any PFS and only Play Sand. They said they used to but no one bought it which makes sense because there are way less homes in Michigan with backyard pools compared to practically 75% of Floridians owning backyard pools.
I'd also like to add I was pretty disappointed when I found this out today and had to go with the Play Sand because I very much prefer the PFS over play sand. (I've used both)
I use playsand, before adding it to my tank I rinse it a few times. Had no problems with water clarity.
Exactly.
I've used both, and in my case the play sand sold locally was a bit heavier/coarser than the PFS. The play sand was also clean out of the bag (came pre-washed), and more natural looking. I've seen some very dirty play sand locally as well, very fine, very dirty, and certainly not something that I would ever use in one of my tanks.
It all boils down to the source of the sand, and as Jose stated the mesh/grain size.
I switched my substrate to pool filter sand and it was 3.85 for a 50 pound bag. I rinsed it forever!!! Took up my new years and my wife was pissed.. Lol funny how some people dont understand hobbies. I was drinking pretty heavy tho. It took a week to clear and that was running to canister filters and my magnum 350 piece of ****. I was almost going to go back to gravel because every time i did a water change sand was everywhere. Long story short i figured Out that if you wrap filter media around the intakes it saves your impeller and if you put water clarifier in there it really doesnt matter what it is.. It works.. And the best part is it also packs the sand down good too.
I also get my sand from the local sand and gravel pit (10#-12#).... it is a lot easier to deal with then pool filter or play sand.
