Aragocrete sand?

so i have been making my own live rock. we have made some kool pieces...

anywho, the normal aragonite sand is pretty expensive for how much we make. Now my questions is do you think there would be problem using fine grade of playground sand to mix with the cement. Would that put off more siliacates or anything else i dont want into the tank even if its cured properly.

 

Play sand has always been frowned on in marine use, not only because of the overwhelming SiO4 issue but the fact that it isn't throughly cleaned..granted you could rinse it well.... My main question is, unless you are selling it how much rock are you making for a 29 gal tank w/ a 10 gal fuge? If you are selling DEFINETLY don't skimp, thats the reason so many products in our world are lousy! If its for your tank, well I would say do whats comfortable.. If that is play sand go ahead, but if there is issues remember you've been warned about rampant diatom and other nuisence algal growth!!

Happy reefing!

 

If you can find non-silicate based playground sand I would go for it! I have heard of many people that have used it and had great luck with it. In Cali you might be able to find it, in Indiana you can't, Kogle and I tried tirelessly about a year ago.

 

It is actually for a 75g we are gonna set him up in about 6mos. I really wonder how much buffering capacity the aragocrete will have. If the sand grains and crushed shells are covered in concrete, will the CaCO3 break still? Have people had to augment the system with an extra large DSB? Does the fact that concrete is basic help to stand in as a buffer or has all that capacity been removed via the curing process?

 

like nano said its not for my 29, its for a new tank in progress. the buffer is what i worried about, because the makeup of play sand is different then aragonite. i believe that most of the silicates will wash out with the 2 month fresh water cure. either way we found a new recipie that calls for crush oyster shells instead of the aragonite. which is good because its 50 lb bag for $10 as apposed to 30lb of sand for $20. i will let you guys know how it turns out

 

There is a widespread debate on aragonite in the hobby, some say it does little to buffer and that the pH needs to drop so low for the aragonite to kick in the tank woul already crash(mid 5s) others including members of Caribsea and others say it begins to buffer at 7.8. I have seen scientific evidence in support of both arguments... I would err on the low side as all companies like to make their item sound miraculous. The best way to buffer is kalkwasser or a two part w/ BAKED baking soda.

Good luck!