Toys-R-Us Sand

slider162 · 08/10/2007, 06:47 PM

I just picked up a 50lb bag for $6. This is some fantastic looking stuff. I did a search and it looks pretty new to the market. Is anyone else using it?

Whisperer · 08/10/2007, 06:55 PM

Can you post a pic of the sand in the package? Just want to see how white it is.

slider162 · 08/10/2007, 07:24 PM

Not sure I could do any better than this:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=toysrus

I already dumped it out, but will wait to get a pic tomorrow under good light to take a pic before I add water.

pattibird1 · 08/13/2007, 07:49 PM

So is this sand really safe for reefs?

Jocephus · 08/13/2007, 08:09 PM

My Toys R us only has the old crappy looking sand. I ended up getting some Calci-sand this weekend, like for reptiles. Anyone have experience with this? It says it's ground calcium carbonate, whatcha think? Sorry for the hijack...

JoeMomma · 08/14/2007, 09:51 AM

If this sand is being sold at Toys R Us and is relatively cheap I will buy it.

http://www.fairmountminerals.com/int...l1=PC_PlaySand

Any reason why I should not?

Thinslis · 08/14/2007, 10:00 AM

Hmm.... I might have to check my Toys R us for some sand =)

OrangeKoi · 08/14/2007, 12:14 PM

Take some vinegar, add a little sand. If it bubbles it is good for your tank. If it does not bubble, it will have little benefit for keeping your tank healthy and your ph stable. Unfortunately I used the stuff in my 30 gallon cube. I'm getting ready to get some of it out. It is cheap and you might think, "great- I can have more sand!" but it will only dissapoint you in the long run. Buy the good stuff. You don't want to compromise the foundation of the reef.

Pea-brain · 08/14/2007, 12:28 PM

I'm sorry, but that is just not true. I had a long discussion with 3 other reefers on this board about calcium based sand vs. silica sand and the only thing we ended up agreeing on is that by the time the buffering capacity of aragonite or other calcium based sands take effect, most everything will be dead. Calcium based sand doesn't start buffering until about 7.6 if I remember right. The only way I could say calcium sand helps at all with PH is if you have a DSB. Then it might help buffer the anoxic zones of it.

Dan

Tahlequah · 08/14/2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pea-brain
I'm sorry, but that is just not true. I had a long discussion with 3 other reefers on this board about calcium based sand vs. silica sand and the only thing we ended up agreeing on is that by the time the buffering capacity of aragonite or other calcium based sands take effect, most everything will be dead. Calcium based sand doesn't start buffering until about 7.6 if I remember right. The only way I could say calcium sand helps at all with PH is if you have a DSB. Then it might help buffer the anoxic zones of it.

Dan

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

I can take a pic of the bag when i get home from work, as I have a spair bag that I have been planning on adding to my tank but havent really figured out how to go about it yet..

Pea-brain · 08/14/2007, 12:45 PM

One thing I would like to note however, is that some corals and invertebrates require calcium based sand to grow. An example is palythoa which incorporates sand particles into its body. Also we don't know the effects of this on sand sifters. One thing that I'd be interested in knowing is if worms and other sand sifting organisms breed as well in this stuff.

Dan

(look at me up there acting like I know what I'm talking about

)

dad300 · 08/14/2007, 06:01 PM

I use play sand in my tank(s) just the regular stuff.
I actually find that my sand bed has more diversity with the play sand than it had with Southdown...
I prefer it although the color is not as nice..
right now I have mix of stuff and where the regular play sand is is where I see more activity in the sand bed..
this is my opinion and my experience...
take it for what you paid for it...

OrangeKoi · 08/15/2007, 09:58 AM

ok...I could be wrong. Just repeating what I've learned here on RC. And from my own experiences.

08/10/2007, 06:47 PM	#1
slider162 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange City, FL Posts: 346	Toys-R-Us Sand I just picked up a 50lb bag for $6. This is some fantastic looking stuff. I did a search and it looks pretty new to the market. Is anyone else using it?

08/10/2007, 06:55 PM	#2
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Can you post a pic of the sand in the package? Just want to see how white it is. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

08/14/2007, 10:00 AM	#7
Thinslis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, Ohio Posts: 1,658	Hmm.... I might have to check my Toys R us for some sand =) __________________ -B Current Tank Info: 40g breeder, ER-RS80, MP40w, 250w + 2xT5

08/14/2007, 06:01 PM	#12
dad300 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hampden, Me Posts: 1,085	I use play sand in my tank(s) just the regular stuff. I actually find that my sand bed has more diversity with the play sand than it had with Southdown... I prefer it although the color is not as nice.. right now I have mix of stuff and where the regular play sand is is where I see more activity in the sand bed.. this is my opinion and my experience... take it for what you paid for it... __________________ wife to me.... "Skimmers cost how much!!!??" Never underestimate the lower boundary of human intelligence. Current Tank Info: 75 gal (216watts t5ho on the way) Various shrroms, xenia, Leather, ;leptoseris, brown polyps

08/10/2007, 07:24 PM	#3
slider162 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Orange City, FL Posts: 346	Not sure I could do any better than this: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=toysrus I already dumped it out, but will wait to get a pic tomorrow under good light to take a pic before I add water.

08/13/2007, 07:49 PM	#4
pattibird1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fontana, Ca Posts: 114	So is this sand really safe for reefs?

08/13/2007, 08:09 PM	#5
Jocephus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 995	My Toys R us only has the old crappy looking sand. I ended up getting some Calci-sand this weekend, like for reptiles. Anyone have experience with this? It says it's ground calcium carbonate, whatcha think? Sorry for the hijack...

08/14/2007, 09:51 AM	#6
JoeMomma Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 619	If this sand is being sold at Toys R Us and is relatively cheap I will buy it. http://www.fairmountminerals.com/int...l1=PC_PlaySand Any reason why I should not?

08/14/2007, 12:14 PM	#8
OrangeKoi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Va Posts: 556	Take some vinegar, add a little sand. If it bubbles it is good for your tank. If it does not bubble, it will have little benefit for keeping your tank healthy and your ph stable. Unfortunately I used the stuff in my 30 gallon cube. I'm getting ready to get some of it out. It is cheap and you might think, "great- I can have more sand!" but it will only dissapoint you in the long run. Buy the good stuff. You don't want to compromise the foundation of the reef.

08/14/2007, 12:28 PM	#9
Pea-brain Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vassalboro, ME Posts: 1,661	I'm sorry, but that is just not true. I had a long discussion with 3 other reefers on this board about calcium based sand vs. silica sand and the only thing we ended up agreeing on is that by the time the buffering capacity of aragonite or other calcium based sands take effect, most everything will be dead. Calcium based sand doesn't start buffering until about 7.6 if I remember right. The only way I could say calcium sand helps at all with PH is if you have a DSB. Then it might help buffer the anoxic zones of it. Dan

08/14/2007, 12:45 PM	#11
Pea-brain Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vassalboro, ME Posts: 1,661	One thing I would like to note however, is that some corals and invertebrates require calcium based sand to grow. An example is palythoa which incorporates sand particles into its body. Also we don't know the effects of this on sand sifters. One thing that I'd be interested in knowing is if worms and other sand sifting organisms breed as well in this stuff. Dan (look at me up there acting like I know what I'm talking about )

08/15/2007, 09:58 AM	#13
OrangeKoi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Va Posts: 556	ok...I could be wrong. Just repeating what I've learned here on RC. And from my own experiences.