home depot sand-is it ok for aquariums?

[bigbadfish711]

You can use pool filter or play sand. Rinse well, and repeat.

+1

I used the Crystal Sand brand form Home Depot. Its like 7 bucks a bag here.

 

[brich999]

wash forever and you will be okay, just be ready to change filter media a lot ofter putting it in

 

[fishmamma]

I couldn't find any PFS at my local Home Depot or Lowes.. I had to go to a Leslies pool supply store to get mine... and it is silica based.. I started to rinse one batch and noticed that nothing was coming off it... it was clean already, so I figured what the heck am I gonna rinse it for if it runs clear already.. so the rest, I just poured right into the tank... all fish are fine and tank water is crystal.. GL!

This is what mine looks like close up...

 

[MartinBoy]

don't use HTH pool filter sand. anything that says Silica run like heck from. I had a very bad experiance with that brand of sand have rinsed it insanely to be safe it still killed off 1/2 my tank.

Silica is not a brand but a type of sand and yes it is ok to use. It is a finer sand than play sand. My brother has had it in his Frontosa tank for over 10 years with fish over 10 years old.

 

[karak]

I used paving sand on a 300g. Rinsed for ~3hours, still murky as hell but was to tired and impatient to care. Dumped it in.
The tank was orangey-yellow for ~1 week. Ran the filter with just mechanical media for this time and it cleared up just fine. Do not do this on an established tank.

 

[calimoben420]

You should be able too..

 

[littlewangzfan]

They carry different sands at the Home Depot. I used Quickrete All Purpose Sand and it says fish safe on the label.

 

[MartinBoy]

They carry different sands at the Home Depot. I used Quickrete All Purpose Sand and it says fish safe on the label.

did you have to wash it first? How much? I'm trying to decide on Hoomedepot vs Leslies PFS at $11.49 per 50lb bag

 

[dangerhack]

did you have to wash it first? How much? I'm trying to decide on Hoomedepot vs Leslies PFS at $11.49 per 50lb bag

I just bought leslie pfs.. didnt try it yet but def looks nice... gonna get my filter an just put it in without cleaning... going to let it run for a few weeks before adding fish

 

[tomojsg]

using play sand is a B takes to long to clean lol i use premium fine white sand(super smooth) but its pretty pricey 20# for 20$ :/ but best ive ever seen