Is this sand any good?

DrunkenSunday · 02-17-2008, 08:19 AM

I want to use this sand due to it being very white and fine. Seeing that its sold for marine tanks it must be ok to use. Does it provide any buffering at all though? Is it argonite? Or silica? I went to petco and looked on the bag, but it says vertualy nothing. Thanks...

tbittner · 02-17-2008, 08:23 AM

What sand are you referring too?

Witfull · 02-17-2008, 10:53 AM

sand is sand as long as its clean of chemicals. add a few drops of vinigar to a pinch of sand, if it bubbles its agronite,,,if not, its silcon base. either will be fine.

DrunkenSunday · 02-17-2008, 03:09 PM

Sorry forgot the link....
Nature's Ocean Premium Marine Substrates at PETCO

DrunkenSunday · 02-17-2008, 03:29 PM

Also, would a deep sand bed or shallow be better with this perticular type of sand?

zy112 · 02-17-2008, 04:16 PM

I think thats all on your preference if you want a DSB or not.

naperenterprise · 02-17-2008, 05:35 PM

I was reading the customer comments from that link...
I really don't like petco or some of the other large corportae pet stores... IMO they just don't educate folks, and sell a lot of crap...

But sand is sand...

You should look at the caribsea live sand with the water in the bag, I really like the look of it.

Or TampaBay Saltwater's live sand / live rock "package"

DrunkenSunday · 02-17-2008, 06:33 PM

Well this sand is VERY white which is why I like it. And I'm not a fan of petco either, but....

BoomerD · 02-17-2008, 06:54 PM

Most of us agree that Petco sux, but from reading a bit via Google, it appears that it's 100% calcium carbonate...so it's probably aragonite based sand and should be fine for your tank.
DO NOT worry about the buffering effects of the sand. For the sand to start to dissolve enough to buffer, IIRC, the pH of the tank would have to drop far enough that you'd have more problems than anything that the buffering effects of the sand would fix...
I prefer NOT to use silica sand because of the potential of free silica to fuel diatoms, otherwise, the IDEAL sand is sugar-fine "oolitic" sand. Actual chemical composition isn't nearly as important as grain size and shape.
BUT, I'd STILL prefer aragonite sand to silica sand.

DrunkenSunday · 02-17-2008, 07:20 PM

Ok, thanks. I will check into this, oolitic sand as well.

02-17-2008, 08:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
DrunkenSunday Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Is this sand any good? I want to use this sand due to it being very white and fine. Seeing that its sold for marine tanks it must be ok to use. Does it provide any buffering at all though? Is it argonite? Or silica? I went to petco and looked on the bag, but it says vertualy nothing. Thanks...

02-17-2008, 08:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is this sand any good? What sand are you referring too? __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

02-17-2008, 03:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
DrunkenSunday Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is this sand any good? Sorry forgot the link.... Nature's Ocean Premium Marine Substrates at PETCO

02-17-2008, 03:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
DrunkenSunday Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is this sand any good? Also, would a deep sand bed or shallow be better with this perticular type of sand?

02-17-2008, 04:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
zy112 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: IN Posts: 984 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is this sand any good? I think thats all on your preference if you want a DSB or not. __________________ Zach

02-17-2008, 05:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
naperenterprise Plate Coral Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Near Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 795 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Is this sand any good? I was reading the customer comments from that link... I really don't like petco or some of the other large corportae pet stores... IMO they just don't educate folks, and sell a lot of crap... But sand is sand... You should look at the caribsea live sand with the water in the bag, I really like the look of it. Or TampaBay Saltwater's live sand / live rock "package" __________________ ~~~Jason~~~ Go check out My Chronicle

02-17-2008, 06:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
DrunkenSunday Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is this sand any good? Well this sand is VERY white which is why I like it. And I'm not a fan of petco either, but....

02-17-2008, 06:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,631 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is this sand any good? Most of us agree that Petco sux, but from reading a bit via Google, it appears that it's 100% calcium carbonate...so it's probably aragonite based sand and should be fine for your tank. DO NOT worry about the buffering effects of the sand. For the sand to start to dissolve enough to buffer, IIRC, the pH of the tank would have to drop far enough that you'd have more problems than anything that the buffering effects of the sand would fix... I prefer NOT to use silica sand because of the potential of free silica to fuel diatoms, otherwise, the IDEAL sand is sugar-fine "oolitic" sand. Actual chemical composition isn't nearly as important as grain size and shape. BUT, I'd STILL prefer aragonite sand to silica sand. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

02-17-2008, 07:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
DrunkenSunday Tubeworm Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 38 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Is this sand any good? Ok, thanks. I will check into this, oolitic sand as well.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)