Pool filter sand...?

LyzzaRyzz

I have an inground swimming pool, and my dad uses this white substance in the filter. Its called Earth? or thats what he calls it.

I was wondering if this is what you mean when you guys say pool filter sand...

Im not exactly sure where he keeps it either, or id know the actual name of it!

Im going to hunt it out tomorrow, but if anyone knows, thatd be great!

Tigris

What I pull up is that Earth is a pool filter system not actual sand.....

what are you trying to keep in the tank?

Varkolak

Pool Filters, Sand, DE, and Cartridge filters, Informational pages on filtering pool water

Earth = D.E. which is the crap my mom swears will clean out parasites, help ache, muscle aches, and anything else she can think of if you eat it. Its basically fossilized diatoms (brown algae in aquariums) when its dry its sharp on a microscopic level and will cut bugs legs so its used as a pesticide - it has also been used as tooth paste and metal polish. Long story short its probably too fine to use but if it wasn't then I would expect it to have some affect on PH and mineral parameters so I wouldn't use it and the sharp atoms aren't a good idea in my mind.

AbbeysDad

It sounds like diatomaceous earth which is a great filtering media, but not what is referred to as pool filter sand. A pool sand filter is exactly that, using real sand that has been screened to provide a somewhat uniform size.

LyzzaRyzz

Thank you guys! I was just wondering, cause my tank is just cycling, and was wondering if I could just use that..guess not!
I'll just get play sand! Anything I should look for in particular?

Byron

White pool filter sand is not good because of the brightness. Quikrete Play Sand works fine, I now have it in 5 of 7 tanks, and soon to be in another.

LyzzaRyzz

I have not gone to look, but this is the play sand that my home depot has..
Decorative Landscape 0.5 cu. ft. Premium Play Sand-0050-D at The Home Depot

Is this good?

fish monger

Home Depot has Pavestone Play Sand and Quikrete Play Sand. Byron uses the Quikrete and that is in the concrete section of the store. Pavestone is in the garden department. I don't know what difference there is in the two. The Quikrete is about a dollar more per 50 pounds.

LyzzaRyzz

How much is the quickrete per package? and how much sand do you actually get outta the bag?

Byron

I've never seen the linked sand, so can't say yea or nay. I would also want to ensure it is inert [Quikrete is], I would suspect so, but one never knows. And I've never seen the Pavestone sand either; I'll look for it next time I'm at the HD but I've never seen sand in the gardening section before.

Quikrete comes in 50 or 55-pound bags for about $7 in Canada; it will be less in the USA.