Sand

[polenslager]

Is play sand okay to use? I have searched and read a ton of posts here and on another forum about using play sand
in place of more expensive sands.. alot of posters say
they have used it. But it seems there are difference opinions on what types are okay to use..

 

[Scooterman]

Depends on where the play sand is harvested from, I think people have used it but had to deal with high silica. I'd get the plain ol southdown dry sand & start new, maybe seed it with a cup from a friend but really I wouldn't even do that & just let it naturally seed from the LR you put in there. JMO!

 

[returnofsid]

As long as the sand is Aragonite based and not silicate based, you'll be just fine. You need to aragonite to act as a buffer. Silicates will cause a lot of algae problems.

 

[DonW]

Play sand is silica based. If your willing to deal with the issues and diatom blooms for the first year or so its fine. Otherwise bags of expensive aragonite sand from the LFS is the way to go. Personally I'd just get the good stuff.

Don

 

[MrSculpin]

Hmm

It sounds like its risky, unless you can be sure of what the bag says and sure of what is actually in the play sand.