moovinfast
Well-known member
Has anyone used playbox sand in their tank? There is a place here that sells "playbox" sand for $9 for a 50lb bag. Its actually sand from the oregon coast thats been dry for a long time.
Use playbox sand?
- Thread starter moovinfast
- Start date
Help Support Reef Aquarium & Tank Building Forum:
lvsuckerfish
g funk
home depot or lowes I am not sure what different sands they carry here compared to las vegas stores but I bought mine there with great results and cost was good also i think it was like 90 to 100lb bag of sand for 7 bucks
NC2WA
Well-known member
playbox sand has too much silicate and will cause algae problems in the tank...personally I wouldnt use it.
the sand from HD/Lowes you are thinking of is called Southdown..and this hasnt been available in the stores for several years.
the sand from HD/Lowes you are thinking of is called Southdown..and this hasnt been available in the stores for several years.
dogfrog
latezonatus
Read this about using Silica Sand in a reef tank and even dosing it..
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm
And then make up your own mind. There are 2 sides to the story about using it. Most people have never used it in their tank and only go by what they hear about it.
and more
http://www.saltcorner.com/Articles/Showarticle.php?articleID=63
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm
And then make up your own mind. There are 2 sides to the story about using it. Most people have never used it in their tank and only go by what they hear about it.
and more
http://www.saltcorner.com/Articles/Showarticle.php?articleID=63
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html
Last edited:
I can tell you I used 600 pounds of silica sand in my 1000g.
There is no issue with diatoms if your tank is healthy.
It's basically glass as opposed to the reef sand we use which helps buffer PH.
The only thing I noticed is that it's very important the sand be stirred often with a fish of some sort. I did notice the sand seemed to kinda back down and become pretty packed down. I assume that over time would create a nitrate ticking time bomb.
There is no issue with diatoms if your tank is healthy.
It's basically glass as opposed to the reef sand we use which helps buffer PH.
The only thing I noticed is that it's very important the sand be stirred often with a fish of some sort. I did notice the sand seemed to kinda back down and become pretty packed down. I assume that over time would create a nitrate ticking time bomb.
ac7av
Bring on the FISH!
Now that is some reading.
Well sounds like a wash on the sand.
I say go ahead and use it.
Generally in the article it states that most reef tank are deficient in soluble silica and this mite be a contributing factor on the short life span of mollusks in a home aquarium.
Maybe it’s not such a bad think after all.
I used some, 3 inches or so in a 55 for over a year and never had any problems with any algae. It was actually clearer then the other tanks I had set up at the time with crushed coral in them.
I’ve always had a little bit of a diatom issue in my tank but I mostly think its more to do with the unusual rock I use in the tank. I never have any green algae on the glass. In the article the guy was talking about comparing the clarity of the glass between diatoms and green algae and there may be something to that. Now that I look at it, my back glass that I never clean has nothing on it. Only a light dusting of something that you can’t tell what it mite be. That does seem strange now that I think about it.
Well sounds like a wash on the sand.
I say go ahead and use it.
Generally in the article it states that most reef tank are deficient in soluble silica and this mite be a contributing factor on the short life span of mollusks in a home aquarium.
Maybe it’s not such a bad think after all.
I used some, 3 inches or so in a 55 for over a year and never had any problems with any algae. It was actually clearer then the other tanks I had set up at the time with crushed coral in them.
I’ve always had a little bit of a diatom issue in my tank but I mostly think its more to do with the unusual rock I use in the tank. I never have any green algae on the glass. In the article the guy was talking about comparing the clarity of the glass between diatoms and green algae and there may be something to that. Now that I look at it, my back glass that I never clean has nothing on it. Only a light dusting of something that you can’t tell what it mite be. That does seem strange now that I think about it.
Exactly. I also noticed that over the course of one or two weeks the glass would develop a light brown dust. It required no effort of the magnet to remove it, and it would sort of knock the dust free and would kinda dissolve or disappear. Never on the sand or rocks.
I second what was said earlier, there are two sides to the story and the side that is against the silica sand (which is a really fine white sand) is mostly by those who have never even touched it. My friend used silica in a 300g ray tank with great results. I love the sugar fine look/feel to it.
07FocusST
Well-known member
NO NO NO! Way too much silicate! I can't stress enough not to use this crap.
This isn't my thread, but I was curious what your experience has been with this type of sand? I am always interested to hear peoples experiences/types of tanks, corals, inhabitants, etc...while using this sand.
07FocusST
Well-known member
Long story short... I wiped out my 55G w/ 10G sump clean of all life after adding 5lbs of play sand. I then again started over with new rock and sand, using play sand, and couldn't keep anything in the tank at all. Nuking the whole tank and getting 60lbs of live sand and new live rock, I now have a reef going.
dogfrog
latezonatus
Focus:
And are you sure it was the cause of the sand? Please elaborate. Any test done to show why? There are many people using silica based sand in reef tanks will no ill effect at all.
Mark
And are you sure it was the cause of the sand? Please elaborate. Any test done to show why? There are many people using silica based sand in reef tanks will no ill effect at all.
Mark
07FocusST
Well-known member
No tests, but after having an established reef aquarium for 2 years and adding sand for a DSB in my 10G sump my tank crashed hard after roughly 48hrs... EVERYTHING was dead or dying. I had nothing left. I have text book parameters until after everyone started dying.
It is possible that a certain brand may have been the cause... I can't remember the brand name though... I just steer clear of play sand from now on and recommend anyone else to do so
It is possible that a certain brand may have been the cause... I can't remember the brand name though... I just steer clear of play sand from now on and recommend anyone else to do so
ac7av
Bring on the FISH!
I can not dispute your experience with the sand but sounds more like the tank got contaminated with something. The rate the silica’s leach out of the sand seems to be so small that I can’t hardly believe that small amount could do anything to even increase the levels in the system a measurable amount in 48 hours.
