live sand or not

[Scooterman]

They don't specify exactly what it is from what I can see but this is what is in it.

It is a feldspathic "any of a group of crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates with either potassium, sodium, calcium, or barium and that are an essential constituent of nearly all crystalline rocks "

Our sand is very popular for use in aquariums. It will not dissolve and is safe for fish, creatures and plants. Please remove fish before adding sand and allow 24 hours for sand to fully settle before reintroducing fish.

Dr. Lynn Silver, a researcher with the consumer group, said tremolite was one of six minerals identified commericially in the rock industry by the term ''asbestos.'' Some scientists believe tremolite particles can cause cancer like other forms of asbestos to which humans are exposed.

 

[MikeS]

Have you ever heard of or seen anyone use safe sand. Its not silica, wonder if its reef safe?

Don

I'd say it's just as safe or unsafe as other playsands...looked at their site, most of what they claim is just a marketing ploy it looks like...

this is from the MSDS on the product....

SECTION VI
Inhalation: Prolonged or repeated exposures to dusty
conditions may result in a lung disorder
Skin Absorption: No effect
Eye Contact: May be irritating due to scratching
Ingestion: Possible discomforts due to intentional
ingestion of abnormal amounts
Effects of Acute Exposure: May result in dryness of nose and
throat
Effects of Chronic Exposure: Prolonged or repeated exposure to
dusty conditions may cause a debilitating lung disorder
Exposure Limits: T.L.V.·T.W.A.- 5.0 mg/m3 respirable
dust (A.C.G.I.H. Limits - Nuisance
dust)

MikeS

 

[trillyen]

i my self personally think the sand is ok to use because it was coveered but if you guys say its not then ill listen

i just dont see what the difference between the live rock (now dead rock), and the sand would be

I really hate to buy some more sand

thanks for the advice of the cheap sand but thats out of the question i refuse to use things not made for aquaria!!

didnt some 1 say that sand is a 1 time purchase, well wouldnt that mean that my sand would dtill be ok to use???

just wondering

i know im never going with black sand again, it was ment to stay in my tank but some how ended up all over the walls that were in the back of the tank but the other aquarium under the same conditions but with different sand had no sand on the walls behind it!!

whoed figure

 

[Scooterman]

Sorry we sorta got of subject, play sand has been used in reef tanks years, yes it may have some algae issues but usually you will have to deal with some algae anyways. I suggested that because it was cheap & it can work. I think trying to clean a tub of sand will be nasty & hard work but you might be able to do it but I'd be sure to get it really cleaned, not sure If that is a safe bet. One other thing, big tanks like your going to have, I'd spend the money on a RO/DI unit, first up because you will be way better off then trying to use Tap water to set up your tanks, your chances of algae problems will be even more if you do use Tap. Once you get RO/DI you can soak your LR in there & get some pure-water for your tanks made, next time you rinse anything like live sand & live rocks, you should do it in the RO/DO water, also it should be up to temp. like 78 degrees always, always, otherwise you will just kill off the life on the rocks & sand, they must be kept live in there natural salt water & must be within a reasonable temperature.
On a side note, I haven't ever seen anything that you buy once & it last forever, that just doesn't happen but in the same breath, you buy good quality & you buy less often, make sense?

 

[Reeferdude]

i my self personally think the sand is ok to use because it was coveered but if you guys say its not then ill listen

i just dont see what the difference between the live rock (now dead rock), and the sand would be

I really hate to buy some more sand

thanks for the advice of the cheap sand but thats out of the question i refuse to use things not made for aquaria!!

didnt some 1 say that sand is a 1 time purchase, well wouldnt that mean that my sand would dtill be ok to use???

just wondering

i know im never going with black sand again, it was ment to stay in my tank but some how ended up all over the walls that were in the back of the tank but the other aquarium under the same conditions but with different sand had no sand on the walls behind it!!

whoed figure

trillyen, it's not as complicated as it's been made out to be. Scooterman's right. Nothing lasts forever, but if you take care of things they will last longer. Maintenance on your car lengthens it's useful life. Maintenance on your body, healthy habits, exercise and diet lengthens your life. And maintenance on your sand will lengthen it's useful life as well.

It's quite simple. If you have disposable income you don't mind throwing at something you don't really need then by all means spend it. If you do not have disposable income and you're not opposed to working a little and cleaning your sand then don't sweat it. Clean it. If you have disposable income but just hate spending it on something you already have, then save/invest your money for your future. Every little bit counts.

 

[trillyen]

thanks guys

i guess ill be buying new sand but keeping everything alive wasnt an option i was basically homeless for more or less 3 or 4 months i mean i had family but we all know how staying with fam is

didnt have a choice but to store it in toats and a storage shed it would have been nice to keep it all set up in a lil salt water thing thpugh

i guess ill be buying new sand, but thats down the road any way cause i still gottqa get my tanks plumbed and everything

you guys have been so helpful on this subject thank you

now if only i could take a understanding to plumbing as i did to the fact that i saved my dang sand for nothing

you gus did say though that if i rinse my sand really really really good though that it would work right????

 

[Scooterman]

Sand is cheap, not sure how well rinsing the sand would work out, If it dried you may have stuff adhered to the particles, It may be a toss up with problems & I still haven't figured a way to rinse it without loosing part of it or effectively enough If it is really bad.
Now your plumbing again If I was you I would seek some help, find someone that can help you figure it out even if they don't do tanks but can glue PVC. We have the information for you but It may take more than just reading it, having another person to look at what we posted & then discuss it with you & your tank may help you figure out how you will get everything connected & flowing right. The only way we could help more would be to break it down to piece by piece, we wold look at a few connections, help you make a list then you go out buy the parts & then dry fit the stuff together, take pictures then with approval you glue it all together & install it. Then we would go hook up something else, the same way, It would take longer but at least you get it right. What you think?

 

[Jobiwan]

If you are going with the real deal and want to save the max, check out foster smith, you can't beat them, they have low prices, but the cheap shipping is what really makes the difference with heavy items. I bought a few hundred pounds of seachem meridian oolitic, the whole works was shipped to me cross country for the flat fee of $17.98, and no sales tax to boot.. BTW, I tossed a couple of hundred pounds of live sand I couldn't give away( I have no idea why...) when I tore down my old system rather than store it for months, just didn't want to take a chance with all the variables and unknowns.

 

[trillyen]

wow fosters sounds cheap ( the way i like it)

i may have to check them out. Scotter man thanks for the advice but i think i got the plumbing down i just need to know how do i primer it???

do i just rub the elbows and joints down with it with a rag or do i have to do other stuff???

thanks!!!

 

[Scooterman]

When you buy the PVC glue they also have PVC primer right next to it, it is the only way to make sure you get no leaks. I think they make some sort of glue that doesn't need primer but not sure how well that works. Inside the can of primer is an applicator, you just roll it around where your gluing parts together. The primer dries real fast then you do the same with the glue just apply it around the PVC end & inside the Elbow so you have to put primer & glue on the pipe & the elbow inside.
I might of just confused you some LOL but we'll make sure you get it right, just ask the questions.

 

[DonW]

When you buy the PVC glue they also have PVC primer right next to it, it is the only way to make sure you get no leaks. I think they make some sort of glue that doesn't need primer but not sure how well that works. Inside the can of primer is an applicator, you just roll it around where your gluing parts together. The primer dries real fast then you do the same with the glue just apply it around the PVC end & inside the Elbow so you have to put primer & glue on the pipe & the elbow inside.
I might of just confused you some LOL but we'll make sure you get it right, just ask the questions.

I'll add that your working time is just a matter of seconds so test fit the parts and mark them with a sharpie if need be.

Don

 

[trillyen]

hey thanks don w

is purple primer ok i was just wondering

they should all be safe for fish right

glad i looked i was putting the primer through out the whole joint lol

so just on the ends on the inside of the plumbing correct

yes that stuff does dry fast!!1