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Aquarium sand or play sand?

75K views 51 replies 15 participants last post by  Justkindoflovefish 
#1 ·
I went to the store to grab a few bags of play sand today. The employee over heard me talking to my friend about my plans for the sand and he stated that play sand is not suggested for fish tanks because it releases a chemical that will harm the fish as well as dirt. He said his 80 gallon freshwater tank was all killed off shortly after adding sand to his.

So, this scared me enough to hold off buying any before asking this question here. So, can I use play sand or is there a special kind? Its $7 a 20kg bag of play sand vs $25 for 9kg bag of "Aquarium sand" at petsmart. I cant afford to do sand in all my tanks unless I can use play sand...
 
#42 ·
I wanted to drain it into the sink basically but a big laundry tub sink is that okay? Im just worried about the crud and dirt going down the drain and settling.

I just went out and bought 4 20kg bags of Quickrete play sand, 2 5 gallon pails came to $39 after tax. Ill do the sand later tonight so I have a weekend to myself :) The one bag was 50% off (we didnt ask they offered) because there was a hole in it but 95% of the sand was still in there
 
#44 ·
I wouldn't use a drain, especially if there's anything mechanical (garbage disposal, mechanical 'lever' to open/close the drain, etc)

I've done it, but I'd be lying if I said it was safe. I bet a plumber would shudder in horror.

At the minimum, I'd do the first rinse outside.
 
#45 ·
Yah, that sediment will hang up in anything and contribute to problems down the road, there is a lot of crap that comes off the rinsing and a lot of it is just really fine sand grains.

Jeff.
 
#46 ·
this is not recommended and I can't believe I used to do this. But is does show an extreme for consideration.

What I used to do decades ago is just take a wastebasket to the local redimix place and get a buckedfull of whatever sand they had on the lot.

pour that in the tank, add water, stick in the plants and top off the last 1" of water in the tank.

What a mess!!!!!!!!!

I literally could not see 1/4" into the tank.

But then two days later the tank was crystal clear with everything having a dusting of whatever fell out of the water. And some floating stuff as well. The flowties sometimes would take a few weeks before they sank and the tank was totally clean.

I hate to think what would have happened if I ran a mechanical filterr of any kind. :shock:

But the tank supported fish just fine for years and years.

(now I use a layered approach which results in a tank that is clear right from the start. Undoubtly helped my just wetting the substrate and planting the plants before filling up the tank.)


perhaps our tanks are more forgiving then we realize.

Or beaslbob is just crazy :p

Still just my .02
 
#48 ·
All drains have a trap and that is where it starts to buildup, BUT, if you have a floor drain with a fairly large slope area you can dump the pail away from the drain and the heavier sediment will settle before it gets to the drain. You would just squeegee or sweep the sediment away from the pouring area each time... it may reduce some of what goes down but it is more work. this way what does go down will be pushed along and not settle as quickly getting it farther along the system and more likely to continue to be pushed along.

Jeff.
 
#50 ·
Okay got the 38 gallon done (sister pulled a nasty prank on me had me in a full out panic she said she applied more silicone to the tank so I had to wait 48 hours with nowhere to put my fish! But she was kidding...finally told me)

So that ones done, the one 5.5 gal is done working on the 35 gallon tank. Wow, so much work. But so much prettier then gravel!
 
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