55 gallon planted tank progress( for those who care)

Jayy

Yes I wiped it, but it come back. It's also on the sand, can't wipe that lol!

Boredomb

Yeah its kinda hard to wipe off sand but you can siphon it off. Btw what kind of sand did you get? I have heard some sand can cause daitoms because it has silica. MY understanding is diatoms feed off silica or something like that.

Byron

Yes, diatoms (when they occur in established tanks) are caused by low light and/or silicates. Silicates is a mineral sometimes present in tap water. Silica sand of course is silicates, thus not a good substrate. Playsand is not silica sand, and other types may not be either.

Jayy

Umm what do you mean the brand?, play or pool? No Just saw what Bryon posted so it's not that. Maybe the tapwater? Or too much lighting, not enough plants?

Boredomb

I have seen silicates in different brands of sand even in some playsand. I know this because I had to becareful when I was picking playsand out the last time I used it because of silicates being in there. This is why i was asking if you remember. Also if sand had it in there it would have had a warning on the bag because supposely Silica "can" cause cancer or rather crystalline silica which is found is some playsand. Not sure if this is the same "silica" that can cause diatom outbreaks or not?

Jayy

Here's the sand 50 lb. Play Sand-40100301 at The Home Depot It says it's safe to use in fish tanks and it has reviews from fish keepers.

Boredomb

Ok, LoL my Local Home Depot doesn't even carry that kinda sand.

Jayy

Is it ok?

Boredomb

Well other people have used it in the aquarium with good results as they didn't put bad reviews on it. I can not see the back label and I am at works so I can't pull up the MSDS on it too see what it has on it, but I am going to say that it should be fine.

Tazman

It is silica based so it could cause algae blooms, also contains trace heavy metals.

MSDS is here (PDF document)