Sand Test

[jayling]

Someone told me in order to find a sand that wont harden your water u need to
put some of the sand in a cup and then add vinigar and see if it bubbles

I tested Botany sand.... it doesnt bubble but it slightly fizzes only very slighty..

so is that ok... please help

 

[Miss Wiggle]

hmmmmm the vinegar test is generally used for rocks, sure you can use it for sand too, however i can make this easy for you, get play sand designed for sandpits, that's safe to use in fish tanks, cheap and easy to get hold of

 

[Glod]

If it fizzes then it's reacting with the vinegar and thus unsuitable. As Miss Wiggle said, play sand, or silica sand are suitable depending on what you prefer the looks of.

 

[jayling]

if i get play sand thats fine

is there other sand which is more course and easy to maintain..

 

[fish-r-fancy]

Usually when you go to your lfs the sand they sell is meant for aquarium use so it should be safe. In one of my tanks I use pool filter sand. I've had it up and running for 3 years now with no problems.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

oh yes i always forget about pool filter sand....... i'm in the UK, we don't really have swimming pools so it'\s not something we'd think of buying!

guess in oz maybe it's more available.

why do you want something courser? play sand is good because it's small enough your fish can sift it through they're gills withouit hurting themselves, much bigger and it could cause a problem.

 

[Torrean]

check the pinned topic on sand

not all play sand is safe. Check the packaging for warnings about use in aquariums

not all sand found in lfs' is inert. In fact a lot of it is designed to raise your PH. Again check the packaging it should say if it is designed to raise PH as that is a big selling point to marine and African cichlid keepers