Play sand from hardware store reef safe?

[EastCoastJon]

i have used play sand from home depot for my freshwater planted system but can I use it in my reef tank will this affect anything I put in the tank?

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm going to say that I personally wouldn't use play sand even in a freshwater tank just because in my experience they are really rather "dirty" sands. I'm not accusing you of having dirty freshwater tanks, clearly this may vary from region to region, but that has been my experience :)

Most play sands are a silica based sand, and some say that would raise your silicate levels so high you'd be swimming in diatoms, but I'm not so sure of that.

There was at one time back in the early 2000's, I believe, a company that had bags of play sand sold through Big Box hardware stores that was 100% aragonite, and was said to be awesome if you could find it. I could never track it down.

I have used swimming pool filter sand in my freshwater tanks, it's a silica sand, but extremely clean; a really popular option for freshwater. In theory, and in my very non-expert opinion, this would "work" for marine tanks, meaning I don't personally believe it will add to your silicates, and it shouldn't otherwise adversely affect your water....

But, it's extremely fine, it will very likely blow around in the amount of flow a reef tank necessarily needs (much more than a freshwater tank). Fine sand blowing around lands on your corals and annoys them, and gets into your pumps and can damage them. Look into posts talking about very fine oolite sand to see what I mean here, like this stuff:
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...VVltHAR2bABDAEAQYASABEgJDIvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
As always, I hope that helped, and best of luck!

 

[EastCoastJon]

I'm going to say that I personally wouldn't use play sand even in a freshwater tank just because in my experience they are really rather "dirty" sands. I'm not accusing you of having dirty freshwater tanks, clearly this may vary from region to region, but that has been my experience :)

Most play sands are a silica based sand, and some say that would raise your silicate levels so high you'd be swimming in diatoms, but I'm not so sure of that.

There was at one time back in the early 2000's, I believe, a company that had bags of play sand sold through Big Box hardware stores that was 100% aragonite, and was said to be awesome if you could find it. I could never track it down.

I have used swimming pool filter sand in my freshwater tanks, it's a silica sand, but extremely clean; a really popular option for freshwater. In theory, and in my very non-expert opinion, this would "work" for marine tanks, meaning I don't personally believe it will add to your silicates, and it shouldn't otherwise adversely affect your water....

But, it's extremely fine, it will very likely blow around in the amount of flow a reef tank necessarily needs (much more than a freshwater tank). Fine sand blowing around lands on your corals and annoys them, and gets into your pumps and can damage them. Look into posts talking about very fine oolite sand to see what I mean here, like this stuff:
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...VVltHAR2bABDAEAQYASABEgJDIvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
As always, I hope that helped, and best of luck!

oooh ok ok i was looking into it becuase its cost effective for a larger tank I'm planning but ill try to find 100% aragonite

 

[Fish Fan]

oooh ok ok i was looking into it becuase its cost effective for a larger tank I'm planning but ill try to find 100% aragonite

Friend, to be clear, my post above was just suggesting that you don't use typical play sand. I am not saying that you need 100% aragonite sand ;-)

For a larger tank, yeah, look into a typical dry aragonite sand, I think this would be the most cost effective.

Maybe I can answer this question this way: I would not spend extra for "sands in a bag" like the CaribbSea "live" sands that are, in my humble opinion, not that "live". You'd be better served to buy cheap 50 pound bags of aragonite, and a bottle of bacteria such as Fritz TurboStart, Dr. Tim's One and Only, or Brightwell's MicroBacter. This would be just my humble opinion, but I think it would fit your needs, plus some bottled bacteria:
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...VRWpHAR1Rbgn9EAQYASABEgLja_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[EastCoastJon]

Friend, to be clear, my post above was just suggesting that you don't use typical play sand. I am not saying that you need 100% aragonite sand ;-)

For a larger tank, yeah, look into a typical dry aragonite sand, I think this would be the most cost effective.

Maybe I can answer this question this way: I would not spend extra for "sands in a bag" like the CaribbSea "live" sands that are, in my humble opinion, not that "live". You'd be better served to buy cheap 50 pound bags of aragonite, and a bottle of bacteria such as Fritz TurboStart, Dr. Tim's One and Only, or Brightwell's MicroBacter. This would be just my humble opinion, but I think it would fit your needs, plus some bottled bacteria:
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...VRWpHAR1Rbgn9EAQYASABEgLja_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

i see i def wasn't thinking live for a larger tank but the super fineness of play sand you mentioned I never thought of either rather not have a sandstorm in my tank lol but thank you for the time and advice

 

[PopDBE]

I used pool sand and playground sand for a fresh water tank. No problem. Didnt kill any fish or plant.

Make sure to rinse and use water clarifier or similar.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I personally liked Ocean Direct, but it is not for everyone. The positives it is a real multi-graded sand with shells and bits. Negatives, it can have some finer sand that gets blown around. The super fine/sugar sand gets mostly siphoned out after a few times anyway. I like the fact that it is a more realistic sand.
If you buy it from Petco, use the $15 of $49+ coupon, which makes it about $17 dollars for a 40 lb. bag

 

[Big E]

When DSB's were a thing everyone was buying play sand, so it has a good two decades of not being an issue. It's important to get as clean a source as possible.

Ace hardware has a clean sand that I know freshwater people use......you don't have to wash it.

I have a bag of AquaQuartz sand that is sold in pool stores..........it's pristine.

 

[EastCoastJon]

When DSB's were a thing everyone was buying play sand, so it has a good two decades of not being an issue. It's important to get as clean a source as possible.

Ace hardware has a clean sand that I know freshwater people use......you don't have to wash it.

I have a bag of AquaQuartz sand that is sold in pool stores..........it's pristine.

you used AquaQuartz in your reef tank? how did it work would you recommend it?

 

[Big E]

I have a bag I have used for my freshwater system, so that's how I know how clean it is.

I'm a bare bottom reefer, don't care for sand in saltwater systems. I can't offer an opinion on it vs aragonite other than both need to be occasionally cleaned/stirred.

It's silica sand, which I think everyone already knows this..........more info here--
https://www.coviacorp.com/products/aquaquartz-pool-filter-sand/
Before anyone brings it up, don't listen to comments like silica sand causes algae issues, ect...................basically mind stories.

https://reefs.com/magazine/silica-in-reef-aquariums/
When DSBs were popular people were putting in 3-4" layers of this sand in their reefs.