johnny Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Hi All What kind of sand can you use in fresh water aquariums that won't change ph or hardness? recomendations please. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Iv used beach sand(thats been washed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 not sure if it changes the ph but daltons propagting mix is comonly used in planted tanks, i had nothing but good results with it - can buy at farmlands etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I use builders mix from bunnings. It's $6 for 25kg, and as long as you wash it throughly, it's great in a tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I use river sand which around here is greywacke and pretty inert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Most river sand should be fine. Beach sand is usually made up of mostly crushed shell so it will buffer the pH. Silica sand is also another option, and there are 'grits' available from some fish shops, stone and water world etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Most beach sands around here only have the occasional shell in it. They're FAR from mostly made up of crushed shells. Now, if it's a white sand beach, that's not made up of crushed shells either, they're usually made up of parrotfish poop. Which is coral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Now, if it's a white sand beach, that's not made up of crushed shells either, they're usually made up of parrotfish poop. Which is coral. Which will still buffer the pH... :roll: What are they made of if not shell? I've found they still buffer the pH... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Tan sands are usually silica, most sands I've seen around NZ are just plain old grey rock(Whatever the name for it is), just finer. Neither of which does anything to the PH. Seems most tanks could stand to have a little more buffering given by the traces of shells that might be in it, if it's even measurable when in a reasonable size tank with moderate water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 We can use beach sand here if we take it as far above the waterline as possible. Anything lower has too much shell and it makes the tanks quite alkaline. Other beaches can have less shell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 I presume the "beach sand" everyone is talking about is bought from a landscaping supplies place, given that its illegal to take it from the beach....... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Only if you get caught Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 How did the landscaping supp;ier get it legally--from am Ausie beach? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 With a permit perhaps... :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 I use pool filter sand, its a silica sand and as such PH neutral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoody Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Any one used sand from the Waikato river??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 i used river sand six bucks a sack from oderings am getting some white silica sand rather expensive though $32 for 40kg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoody Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 This will be free as it's about 20m from my back door! Just wanting to know what it will do to my water parameter's and what it will look like?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Give it a wash, chuck it in a bucket with some fresh water and test the ph. Leave it a few days with an air stone for circulation then test again, that will give you a pretty good idea, wouldnt think there'd be much sand exposed atm Hoody after all the rain...& dont fall in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 This will be free as it's about 20m from my back door! Just wanting to know what it will do to my water parameter's and what it will look like?? Hmmm... I wouldn't be worrying about pH as much as contaminants. Would you be willing to drink the water 20m from your back door? Are you confident the sand is free from industrial and agricultural run-off? Test the pH as advised above. When you have rinsed the sand thoroughly, drink about a litre of the rinsing water. If you haven't died or contracted a serious illness in a couple of days, put the sand in your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Given how cheap sand is from a building or landscaping supplies place I certainly wouldn't be willing to risk it. Could cost a lot if something wiped out all your fish, not to mention a fine from DOC... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rio670 Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 what about from around lake taupo???, I want quite a dark sand for my freshwater tank!, hubby suggested the lake sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoody Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 my house is about 300m downstream from where Hamilton draw's it's water from..... :roll: :-? What is going to be so dfferent re contaminant's as opposed to sand from mitre 10??? Do they "de-contaminate" building sand??? :roll: :roll: Will do some ph check's as Simian suggested and post result's. Just shoot out the back, be back soon......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindy500 Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Given how cheap sand is from a building or landscaping supplies place I certainly wouldn't be willing to risk it. Could cost a lot if something wiped out all your fish, not to mention a fine from DOC... docs not gonna give you a fine for taking a couple of buckets of sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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