Joe Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Hi everyone, I'm thinking of getting some silica sand for my blackwater biotope aquarium. I have read on google that low pH can cause it to leach silicates and stuff into the water which I am worried about as this tank will have a low pH. Would quartz sand be a better option? I have read that this is completely inert, and will not leach anything into the water or alter the pH or hardness. Thanks, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Silicate leaching is said to be an urban legend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Joe, I've had various sands including silica and the Gh/Kh hardness was no different when I tested water with and without the sands. I don't know anything about quartz sand though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Silicates are pretty insoluble so I would expect not. Dangerous if inhaled as dust though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Silicates are pretty insoluble so I would expect not. Dangerous if inhaled as dust though. Because they are insoluble so your body cant get rid of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Because they are insoluble so your body cant get rid of them? Your body doesn't just dissolve material and then excrete it through urine. Have you never coughed? There is a continuous flow of mucous out of your lungs up your throat. Whether it's before damage is done is another matter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 I have a fair amount of silica sand in my aquarium and it does not leach one bit, my water chemistry has stayed the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 The only thing it would leach would be silica(probably obvious), which is pretty harmless. And won't effect any tests other than silica tests in the tiny amounts that it does dissolve. The only thing, possibly, that it might increase is brown algae which is made of diatoms. They have a shell made of silica. And whether it's significant or not is debatable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Silicosis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Silicosis is a condition whereby very fine silica dust enters the lungs reaching the alveoli bypassing the mucus lung defences. I doubt that there is any way one could get it from silicates in water. It is reported in coal miners and others who work with silica. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Silicates are pretty insoluble so I would expect not. Dangerous if inhaled as dust though. Also a problem for people working with silica sand such as sand blasters. That is why they don't use silica sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Silicosis is a condition whereby very fine silica dust enters the lungs reaching the alveoli bypassing the mucus lung defences. I doubt that there is any way one could get it from silicates in water. It is reported in coal miners and others who work with silica. is there a possibility it could affect gill membranes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Not in the same way. An alveolus is a dead end, a sac, but gill membranes project into the water stream to perform gas exchange and so should not trap fine silicates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Thanks everyone for all your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Does anyone know where to get some smooth silica sand from in Christchurch or Nelson? Apparently there is a sandblasting company here but I assume they will only sell the abrasive one. I'll go and check anyway. Otherwise I was thinking of ordering a 25kg bag from Hollywood Fish Farm because it's only $20, but stipping will be expensive though, which is why I want to try and get it closer. Petstuff 101 also sell it for $10 dearer, is it any better than the stuff at HFF? Thanks, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Sandblasters are not allowed to use silica sand. They are protected with fully protective gear but everyone else is not. You should not therefore be able to buy silica sand from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 HFF and Petstuff101 have the same sort of silica sand as far as I know - I've had both at the same time and couldn't notice any difference in colour or grain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Thanks guys I think I'll order some from HFF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Surely one of the ChCh shops stocks it Joe? Cheaper shipping (and we will be going down there soon ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Shipping will be something like $40 from HFF edit: $61.20 just for shipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Wow that's a lot I would of thought it would have been a bit less, maybe $30 or something. Oh well. Does anyone know where I can get silica sand in Christchurch? Or any other type of fine, pale sand that isn't abrasive or alters water parameters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Wow that's a lot I would of thought it would have been a bit less, maybe $30 or something. Oh well. Does anyone know where I can get silica sand in Christchurch? Or any other type of fine, pale sand that isn't abrasive or alters water parameters? I'd suggest checking out any of these near you: http://yellow.co.nz/yellow+pages/landscaping+supply/christchurch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Have you tryed your local bunnings or paint shops. Im not sure how smooth it is but i guess you can make that decision when you see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 JOE!!!!!!!!!!! I can get you sillica sand for $5, 20Kg not sure how much for courier as yet but will look into it if you wish. ( It needs to be washed and you loose 50%) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Wow thanks Ira, that's a huge help Hamstar99, there are no places at all in Blenheim that sell it. I have been to Placemakers, and Mitre 10 mega and they don't have it. The Warehouse doesn't have it either, and we don't have Bunnings. And as far as I know none of the garden shops sell it. They do have pumice sand but it's too course for the Apistos to sift through it. Would be great for aquatic plants though Jim R, what do you mean I will loose 50%? Also is it the smooth grade stuff? Sounds great though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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