sakrete play sand
- Thread starter frontosafanatic
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I'm pretty sure 3m color quartz is coated silica, so yeah, you're right about sand being silica.
there is 3m color quartz still available. If you're in the southwest look up Mason Mart, I believe the owner said he has around a half million pounds of it in various colors. He also showed me another brand that will be replacing 3m color quartz, looks exactly the same, in various colors, but I forgot the name.
If you go to 3m's website, you should be able to still find distributors in your area that have it, no matter where you're located.
there is 3m color quartz still available. If you're in the southwest look up Mason Mart, I believe the owner said he has around a half million pounds of it in various colors. He also showed me another brand that will be replacing 3m color quartz, looks exactly the same, in various colors, but I forgot the name.
If you go to 3m's website, you should be able to still find distributors in your area that have it, no matter where you're located.
SpeshulEd;3680231; said:
You really need to know what you are talking about before you start telling people what to do.
Quartz is just another form silica can take. Its not coated with anything.
ITS JUST SAND!!!
I have seen post warning people from using both silica and quartz.
Stop the madness. You cant buy sand without silica or quartz as its whats sand is made up of.
andersp90;3680260; said:You really need to know what you are talking about before you start telling people what to do.
Quartz is just another form silica can take. Its not coated with anything.
ITS JUST SAND!!!
I have seen post warning people from using both silica and quartz.
Stop the madness. You cant buy sand without silica or quartz as its whats sand is made up of.
Sorry, I was wrong, 3m color quartz is "ceramic coated crystal" - it is smooth and rounded. I know this for a fact, I just looked at a bag, and I have it in my tank. Quickcrete silica sand bought from home depot is jagged and sharp.
And as for telling people something and not knowing what I'm talking about...I was quoting a sticky. Usually stickies contain useful knowledge that for the most part, is correct.
Also, because of this thread, I wouldn't recommend silica sand to someone:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=279840
see post #21
I may be wrong, but I dropped some bank on my rays, and hope to add some rarer rays to my collection one day. When it comes down to saving a couple of bucks on something that costs hundreds - thousands of dollars, it seems silly to cut costs.
SpeshulEd;3680322; said:
That guy was using "Råda" sand. Its the same brand I have been using for all my ray tanks the past 4 years.
I have never had any problems
Your quartz my be coated with some kind of colour pigment. It shouldent male it less "sharp".
You can send me a sample. Then we can compare it.
I just reread my last post, sorry if it was a bit cranky. I admit, I'm still a bit of a noob when it comes to rays, I'm reading and learning as much as I can. I read that about silica, and was just reiterating as I don't have actual experience with silica and rays. So I apologize.
This is not the best picture, but it seems to show the most detail of the 3m color quartz. If you look real closely, you can see that its perfectly round little sphere's with no jagged edges.
and this is the best picture I have of the quickcrete silica sand
The silica sand, when rubbed between your fingers, does have a grit to it. The sand won't cut you, but there is a sharpness to it. The 3m sand doesn't have that, its smooth to the touch.
Like I said though, I'm still a bit of a noob and don't have experience with rays on the silica sand. I was going to use it, but just didn't want to risk it after reading the sticky.
With all that being said, I've found the silica sand to be lighter. When I gravel vac, I pick up more of the silica sand than I do when I gravel vac the 3m color quartz. The 3m color quartz sticks to the rays a bit. They can get it off when they want it off, but it does stick a bit. I also have polyfill in the first stage of sump, and when I replace it, it's always a blackish color, which I presume is from the 3m color quartz. However, I usually always find silica sand in the filters on the tanks that I have used it in.
Also, the silica sand never seemed to bother my TSN when he was in a tank with it and would lay on the bottom.
So there, thats about everything I know about the two kinds of sands.
This is not the best picture, but it seems to show the most detail of the 3m color quartz. If you look real closely, you can see that its perfectly round little sphere's with no jagged edges.
and this is the best picture I have of the quickcrete silica sand
The silica sand, when rubbed between your fingers, does have a grit to it. The sand won't cut you, but there is a sharpness to it. The 3m sand doesn't have that, its smooth to the touch.
Like I said though, I'm still a bit of a noob and don't have experience with rays on the silica sand. I was going to use it, but just didn't want to risk it after reading the sticky.
With all that being said, I've found the silica sand to be lighter. When I gravel vac, I pick up more of the silica sand than I do when I gravel vac the 3m color quartz. The 3m color quartz sticks to the rays a bit. They can get it off when they want it off, but it does stick a bit. I also have polyfill in the first stage of sump, and when I replace it, it's always a blackish color, which I presume is from the 3m color quartz. However, I usually always find silica sand in the filters on the tanks that I have used it in.
Also, the silica sand never seemed to bother my TSN when he was in a tank with it and would lay on the bottom.
So there, thats about everything I know about the two kinds of sands.
After reading everybodys responses i'm starting to rethink everything and leaning towards black tile,for a few different reasons.It's a smooth surface,the black will make the colors pop more,and I don't have to worry about sharp particles irritating the disc or getting sucked into the gills.Thanks everyone for your responses.
