Sand question

I'm starting up a 35 gallon reef aquarium and curious as to if there are certain characteristics I should be looking for in a sand substrate.

Many of you seem to be using live sand or aragonite sands. But is there a reason I cannot use regular sand that can be bought at Home Depot or Canadian Tire?

I just want to know what properties "Southdown Aragonite Sand" has that makes it suitable for a marine aquarium that regular sand at a hardware store doesn't have.

Thanks in advance.

 

One thing with getting sand from places like that, is debris and possiable contamints as well as many are silica based (sharp edges, not good for micro fauna nor bottom dwelling fish). Aragonite helps buffer you water parameters and is a preferred substrate for many micro fauna. Some worms, cukes and such, can process the aragonite, but not the silica. South Down, at least in the SE parts of the states, is mined from the same mine as Caribsea's stuff.

 

[quote author=Gresham link=board=Sand;num=1092177169;start=0#1 date=08/10/04 at 15:42:03]One thing with getting sand from places like that, is debris and possiable contamints as well as many are silica based (sharp edges, not good for micro fauna nor bottom dwelling fish).  Aragonite helps buffer you water parameters and is a preferred substrate for many micro fauna.  Some worms, cukes and such, can process the aragonite, but not the silica.  South Down, at least in the SE parts of the states, is mined from the same mine as Caribsea's stuff.[/quote]

So it is desirable to have an aragonite based sand it seems. But is there a danger to having a silica based sand in a reef tank?

 

Some claim it releases silica back into your system, which is one hing we don't want. Silica build up leads to retarded coral growth from what I've been told and it is a food soirce for algae. FWIW, I use some silica sand at my holding facility for some tougher fish, but not for the sand sifters.

 

[quote author=Gresham link=board=Sand;num=1092177169;start=0#3 date=08/10/04 at 15:53:38]Some claim it releases silica back into your system, which is one hing we don't want.  Silica build up leads to retarded coral growth from what I've been told and it is a food soirce for algae.  FWIW, I use some silica sand at my holding facility for some tougher fish, but not for the sand sifters.[/quote]


Thanks a lot, I'll look for aragonite based sand.

 

Hey Shane, Obviously your from Canada, Were abouts. I maybe able to aid in your search for cheaper alternatives to LFS sand

Jason

 

[quote author=Jason McKenzie link=board=Sand;num=1092177169;start=0#5 date=08/10/04 at 16:46:43]Hey Shane,  Obviously your from Canada,  Were abouts.  I maybe able to aid in your search for cheaper alternatives to LFS sand

Jason[/quote]

It'd be great if you could but not sure you can from Vanouver.

I am in Eastern Ontario, 1 hour from Ottawa or Montréal, either way.

I'm also about 2 minutes from Massena, New York. Maybe they have a Home Depot there that sells Southdown Sand.

Thanks, Jason.

 

Hey Shane I lived in Ottawa for a couple of year, Anyway if you can get southdown go for it. There are a couple of local reef clubs and web sites, I don't want to push you away from 3Reef, but it is very handy when looking for used or unwanted part on the cheap.
http://www.aquariumpros.ca
http://www.aquariacanada.ca

Also www.jlaquatics.com is a BC LFS but ship throughout the country and have amazing prices

J

 

Thanks Jason. Unfortunately, there isn't a Home Depot across the river in NY.

There's an interesting article on silica sands here.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on it.