i heard you can use Silica sand which i guess is used in sand blasting and is found outside so i was wondering about going out to my aunts sand pit and getting so but i'm not sure if i could use it even after i wash it good plz put some input on this and what you guys have used for sand wise
Silica sand
- Thread starter ElectricJackDempsey
- Start date
Where does the sand from your aunt's sad pit come from? If its silica sand as you say, I would take extra time in washing the sand.
You might want to spring for a bag of pool filter sand. Rather than digging the sand from the pit. By taking the sand from a pit there is a possibility that what you are taking will not be inert You may be adding a substrate that could affect your water chemistry.
Also I have heard anecdotally that sand can be a nightmare if you have an acrylic tank so take that into account if you have an acrylic tank.
I chose to go cheap and bought bags of playsand for my 75 and 10 gallon tanks. The sand looks fine but requires tons of rinsing to remove the clay that comes in it. It is also relatively fine and gets stirred up pretty easily. If I had it to do over again I would have sprung for Eco complete or amazonia or even gone cheap with pool filter sand.
Also I have heard anecdotally that sand can be a nightmare if you have an acrylic tank so take that into account if you have an acrylic tank.
I chose to go cheap and bought bags of playsand for my 75 and 10 gallon tanks. The sand looks fine but requires tons of rinsing to remove the clay that comes in it. It is also relatively fine and gets stirred up pretty easily. If I had it to do over again I would have sprung for Eco complete or amazonia or even gone cheap with pool filter sand.
I use store bought silica sand all the time, its doesn't really leave the water cloudy either but if its outdoors i wouldn't use it, i get my sand form home depot.
You guys think Home Depot sand was never outside? YEAH RIGHT!!
I would say just rinse it really really well.
I would say just rinse it really really well.
If you have access to free sand I would just go get some, rinse it, and put it in a tank without fish in it and see how it feels...
It should not be very cloudy, and it should not be too fine grained.
Let it sit with water in it and see if the ph is changed or anything.
If you insist on paying for your sand, I would recommend pool filter sand.
It should not be very cloudy, and it should not be too fine grained.
Let it sit with water in it and see if the ph is changed or anything.
If you insist on paying for your sand, I would recommend pool filter sand.