Will this work?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
If you haven’t already, check a pool supply store. I get it $7 for a 50lb bag here in Charlotte NC. PFS is better for root growing plants because of the larger grain size. It doesn’t smother the roots. I also add Malaysian Trumpet Snails to all of my sand substrate planted tanks because they burrow in the sand all day and eat detritus and dead plant leaves.
 
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I would think twice about the sand from lowes. A lot of silicates, which can be a contributing factor with diatoms (brown algae).
 
I use sand from the local beach, nothing beats it. I wash it a few times before I put it to use. It's already full of nutrients for the plants, and a healthy amount of minerals. It's also full of crushed shells that will help maintain a balanced PH as well as give the sand a very natural look. I have had almost no problems with rooted plants despite the sand being very fine. I always consider sand snails a must when dealing with sand, not only for the plants but also to prevent Co2 buildup which inevitably happens in a stagnant setting.
 
Yohanon said:
I would think twice about the sand from lowes. A lot of silicates, which can be a contributing factor with diatoms (brown algae).
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Ok this maybe a dumb question but here we go. What is the difference between silicates and silica? I understand the problem with to much silicates but do not understand the difference in the 2. I know other sites say there is a difference but do not go into detail about the 2. Just trying to understand. Thanks
 
Preacher said:
Ok this maybe a dumb question but here we go. What is the difference between silicates and silica? I understand the problem with to much silicates but do not understand the difference in the 2. I know other sites say there is a difference but do not go into detail about the 2. Just trying to understand. Thanks
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They're basically the same thing, "silicates" is just a slightly broader term. Silica, or Silicon dioxide is the main ingredient in most traditional types of sand, and is basically crushed quartz, although it takes other forms as well. A silicate is a compound consisting predominantly of silica, for example sand or unfractured rocks high in Silicon content.
 
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I found the Quikcrete to have lots of tiny sand particles that made my water very cloudy. I've had better luck with sand from pool supply stores or from Ace Hardware. They seem to use larger grains of sand
 
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decoy50 said:
I found the Quikcrete to have lots of tiny sand particles that made my water very cloudy. I've had better luck with sand from pool supply stores or from Ace Hardware. They seem to use larger grains of sand
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When sourcing sand from anywhere really, it would be a good idea to wash it, to get those fine particles out. The way I do it is I fill a couple of inches of sand in a bucket, fill it up and empty it several times while stirring, letting the sand sink before I empty the dirty water. When the water in the bucket is clear the sand is clean. There are probably better ways to wash the sand but that's how I do it. It gets tedious with large amounts but it beats cloudy water.

EDIT: Actually I'm not familiar with Quikcrete, but reading the name now if it's some sort of concrete compound then I'm not sure any amount of washing would fix the problem :P
 
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