picking sand

[nycsicktank]

white or brown(playsand) sand?

having hard time deciding.

 

[masterswimmer]

For a sandbox or your reef :scratchch

If reef, I've never heard of anyone using the brown (just because of aesthetics, forget if it's even suitable).

 

[nycsicktank]

lol russ
whats wrong with this sand? =)

 

[masterswimmer]

lol russ
whats wrong with this sand? =)

Just on an appearance note, it looks muddy to me.
As far as it's acceptability in a reef system, you'd have to do the vinegar test to see if it is safe.

R

 

[steveo32]

Whats the vinger test ?

 

[masterswimmer]

Whats the vinger test ?

When vinegar comes in contact with silicate based sand nothing happens.
When the vinegar comes in contact with calcium carbonate based sand it fizzes up (releases CO2 (I think)).

Calcium carbonate is what you want, not silicate.

swimmer

 

[nycsicktank]

how do i check it?

 

[masterswimmer]

how do i check it?

Either bring some vinegar to your local sand supplier or bring some sand home to your vinegar :biggrin:

Mix them together in a cup and see the reaction (or none).

 

[nycsicktank]

i believe none is better?

 

[masterswimmer]

i believe none is better?

Nope, you WANT a reaction (fizzling). This will be the release of CO2. It is the reaction you're getting from calcium carbonate.

swimmer

 

[nycsicktank]

bad news. barely got any frizzling. garbage on the way :letitallo

 

[Tito]

Why start a Reef (expensive hobby) if you're going to use "playsand" or Home Depot" types of sand? I don't understand that logic. Sand is expensive yes - but so is Reefing. I myself use Pink Samoa Sand - and that's for my FOWLR.

 

[marrone]

Why start a Reef (expensive hobby) if you're going to use "playsand" or Home Depot" types of sand? I don't understand that logic. Sand is expensive yes - but so is Reefing. I myself use Pink Samoa Sand - and that's for my FOWLR.

HD used to sell Yardright Tropic Play sand which was the same sand that you would buy in the LFS but at a fraction of the cost.

Yes a reef tank is an expensive hobby but a lot of things that you use can be found for a lot less and give you the same or exact results. The 2 part solution is another one of those things.

 

[nycsicktank]

HD used to sell Yardright Tropic Play sand which was the same sand that you would buy in the LFS but at a fraction of the cost.

Yes a reef tank is an expensive hobby but a lot of things that you use can be found for a lot less and give you the same or exact results. The 2 part solution is another one of those things.

no doubt^ and its expensive.