Switching to sand... PlaySand or All Purpose?

[Cohazard]

So, I finally decided to switch my 180g to sand. I've never used sand until I setup a tank for my nephew and it looks great, so I did a little reading and went to Home Depot today.

I found two kinds, both made by Quickrete: Play Sand, and All Purpose sand.

I've read that a lot of aquarists choose play sand, but I like the brown color of the all purpose sand.

What worries me though is that the All Purpose sand has a warning: "May Contain Crystalline Silica" and I remember reading that silica isn't good for fish, I think.... anyone know more about that?

I'm waiting for your answers before I choose which color to add to my tank.

The grain size looks more consistent on the play sand, so I'll probably just end up using it, but it's just that I prefer the brown color of the all purpose to the grayish-off white of the play sand.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rallysman]

I never really liked my playsand when I had it. It was way too fine and kind of looked muddy in my tank. All of my sand bottom tanks are now swimming pool filter sand. I like the look and consistency of it much better (plus, it's easier to clean)

Here is a pic of what the sand looks like.

 

[Zeppelin3k]

pool filter sand, about 8 bucks for 50 pounds. its also to heavy to be picked up by a cleaning hose

 

[Cohazard]

Yeah I heard about that stuff and was looking for some. Didn't get a chance to stop by Leslie's.

I'm concerned about the look of it. I'm looking for a more natural darker shade. But pool filter sand, seems too bright and unnatural looking to me, but I do like the reports of smoother grains and sinks better.

I'm going to empty some of the two sands I got into a clear container... rinse it, and swish it around to see it's properties in water.

Anyone have Play Sand in their tank that they can share a pic of?

TIA

 

[Cohazard]

Wow.... rinsed the play sand and it looks okay... more of a grey color, but under the lights of my tank.. it looks okay.

The brown stuff is no bueno. Basically turned to mud and has a huge gradient in grain size.

Looks like play sand wins.

 

[ethnics]

im using play sand, my motoro and endli loves it.

 

[KoiGuy]

I bought some patio sand.
It was the only 1 that didn't have silicates that may cause cancer

 

[synapse989]

I use a mix of small gravel and sand.. I used regular silica sand.. rinsed it well, let it sit in a bucket with water for a few days and a small film grew on the top of the water.. to get rid of that film just lay a piece of paper on top of the water for around 10-15 seconds and pull it up. never had a problem with the sand and the fish love it.

 

[id10t]

One more vote for pool filter sand... like the play sand, but the grains are about the size of kosher salt... got mine from the outdoor/pool section of home depot.

 

[synapse989]

yeah and I'm considering redoing my tank with pool sand now that I've seen the photos...