Play sand is THE worst substrate

[Jon M]

It happens all the time where a big box store won't stock something and another will, the manager has some say in the stock. I have not seen pfs sand at any home depot or lowes I've been at in new york state (been in quite a few from NYC to Albany to Western NY).

Have you asked them to order some for you?... It's a regular item in their chain store so I'd assume it wouldn't be a hassle for them.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; I have used common construction grade or play sand. I use a colander or homemade screen to sift out the fine grains. I have used the coarser grains as a tank substrate. The fine stuff causes a variety of issues, many of which have been cited in this thread. I purchased 3/4 ton of the construction sand last summer to bed some drain pipes for less than $20. The corse grain material does ok. I did not like the way it looks in a display tank

That said, I have not used sand in several years. I have a few hundred pounds or so of stone gravel purchased in the 1970's. It has been washed and reused many times. I would like to find some more of the pure black, as I have only enough of to do around a 30 gallon tank to 4 inches on hand.