pool filter sand

[dragonfish18]

someone advised me to get some pool filter sand for my aquarium...
is there anything i need to know and how would i know its aquarium safe?

 

[Iffrat]

I use it .. I love it .. rinse rinse rinse ..!!! i get mine from leslies pool supply .. its a chain store .. only kind they carry

 

[JohnM]

As long as it says Pool Filter Sand on the bag its fine. Definitly rinse rinse rinse. My fish seem to like it better than regular gravel.

 

[dragonfish18]

thanks guys
ive called the pool store before they said they had one with silica and one without
silica is nothing to worry about right?

 

[JohnM]

THATS.......A GOOD QUESTION??? I would go without silica.

Anybody else??

 

[FSM]

It doesn't matter. Silica dust is harmful if inhaled (sandblasting, for example) but I doubt you'll be doing any of that in a fish tank.

 

[MalawiTango]

the PFS I got was Lighthouse brand and I barely had to rinse. It comes prerinse so it doesnt cloud your pool.

 

[Iffrat]

i always hear without silica .. but i dont know ..

 

[MonsterMinis]

if you have any scaleless fish silica can scratch them up fairly bad. which is why most people avoid any silica based sand. So depending on your stock and likely the price difference. personally I'de edge on the side of caution.

 

[JohnM]

Lighthouse brand is what I got as well but it was a little dirty when I rinsed it out.