markman peat co. play sand

12-07-2004, 09:23 AM

anybody ever tried the playsand you can find at Ace Hardware in the chicagoland? I just purchased a 50# bag for 2.99 and want to use it in my new reef.

Diver_1298 · 12-12-2004, 11:55 AM

Sean, I dont know if anybody here has tried that name brand. BTW Join 3reef it's free!
Most play sand that has been sterilized is ok by me as long as the silicates are as low as they can be. They cause brown diatom blooms? I tried to find the company on the web to look at the MSDS sheet to see what the silicate level is but... All I could find was that they 3rd party their stuff under the Ace Hardware name.
Other people don't like the fine play sand because they say it "cuts" like glass? I used sterilized play sand and mixed in some live sand from the Gulf of Mexico. Good Luck.
Jim

skennelly · 12-13-2004, 04:37 AM

Hello,
I am actually already a member, but I accidently added this post as a guest. I actually found a supply of Old Castle Tropical Sand at a local Home Depot and went with that. I just set the tank last week and it looks absolutely great with that sand.

thanks for the reply.

Diver_1298 · 12-13-2004, 05:07 AM

Great!! They say that is a good sand for the aquarium. Be sure to post your pictures. KARMA for everyone.
Jim

skennelly · 12-13-2004, 07:16 AM

Certainly, I am in the process of building a small website to track the progress of my reef project. I'm post as soon as it is populated with pictures.

Thanks

Birdlady · 12-13-2004, 09:10 AM

My understanding of the whole sand thing is the silica sand is OK except for sand sifting animals....it is crushed so it is sharp like glass. If your sand leaches silica...then your all glass tank would also, it is made from basically the same stuff.

Old Castle sand is good. It is aragonite, or eroded coral pieces....real beach sand

Birdlady · 12-13-2004, 09:12 AM

Of course, I have been wrong before! LOL! The whole sand thing is just one huge debateable issue