Play sand?

Jim_Leyland · 04/22/2008, 07:42 AM

Ive heard of reefers using play sand in their tanks i was just wondering if it mattered what kind, is there something that i should look for so i know not to use a certain kind?

Cramz07 · 04/22/2008, 07:49 AM

i think they use the fine play sand...just watch it with your powerheads i'm pretty sure it's really fine someone might want to check me on this though...never used it just going off what i think i remember

an411 · 04/22/2008, 08:11 AM

I think that you want to look out for sand with silica in it. From what I read on here its not recommended cause later down the road it can lead to algae blooms. Others disagreed. Me personally I wouldn't risk it I would just go with dry aquarium sand and then just add live sand to seed the dry sand and make it all live. HTH

kzooreefer · 04/22/2008, 08:12 AM

I've used it in a FW tank and it is very fine and blows around very easily. Couldn't even vacuum it with a siphon as it would just suck it out of the tank. The upside was that it stayed a lot cleaner than anything else I've ever used as diatoms and algae never grew on it and the fish loved it.

04/22/2008, 07:42 AM	#1
Jim_Leyland Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent, Ohio Posts: 924	Play sand? Ive heard of reefers using play sand in their tanks i was just wondering if it mattered what kind, is there something that i should look for so i know not to use a certain kind?

04/22/2008, 07:49 AM	#2
Cramz07 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 388	i think they use the fine play sand...just watch it with your powerheads i'm pretty sure it's really fine someone might want to check me on this though...never used it just going off what i think i remember

04/22/2008, 08:11 AM	#3
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	I think that you want to look out for sand with silica in it. From what I read on here its not recommended cause later down the road it can lead to algae blooms. Others disagreed. Me personally I wouldn't risk it I would just go with dry aquarium sand and then just add live sand to seed the dry sand and make it all live. HTH

04/22/2008, 08:12 AM	#4
kzooreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 453	I've used it in a FW tank and it is very fine and blows around very easily. Couldn't even vacuum it with a siphon as it would just suck it out of the tank. The upside was that it stayed a lot cleaner than anything else I've ever used as diatoms and algae never grew on it and the fish loved it.