freshwater sand

[nvsazn3o3]

anyone know where i can buy freshwater sand? something that doesn't affect water quality.

[SickLid]

SeaChem makes an Onyx sand. It only comes in one color: black, and it does provide a small buffering capacity to the water. Any substrate you will use will affect water quality (some more than others). Here is a link to their website:

<a href="http://www.seachem.com/en_products/product_pages/350_onyx_sand.html" target="_blank">SeaChem's Onyx Sand</a>

Hope this helps,

M

<small>[ May 27, 2002, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: SickLid ]</small>

[SickLid]

Here is a reply sent to me from SeaChem's tech support. I inquired about the gravel, but I am sure it applies to the sand as well:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Thank you for your interest in our products. In regards to your
questions on this substrate, you can treat this gravel like any other
as far as maintenance, etc. This gravel is an ore with a rich mineral
composition to benefit the root zone of plants. It is not chemically
coated and does not contain nitrate and phosphate. It does not have
to be used exclusively with plants, it just offers a benefit it you
choose to keep live plants. The buffering ability this substrate
offers is very minimal. Using this substrate alone in pure water you
will get a pH of 7.1 - 7.2. The water parameters you mentioned
should not be impacted by this substrate. The depth of the gravel bed
you desire is inconsequential given the fact that you are not using
it to develop a root zone for plants. You will also have enough
biological activity in your filtration as to not rely on your
substrate for any additional biological activity. You just desire
enough for your artificial plants to foot in. I would assume a 1" -
2" depth will suffice depending on the size of the artificial plant.
This will require 5 bags to accomplish. If you choose to keep live
plants, a minimum of 2" is required for proper root development and
more substrate will be needed.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">M

[oscarbartoni]

I would think that play sand for kids sand boxes would be safe to use in an aquariun and also be inexpensive. You could put some in a small amount of water and test if for changes in pH and also put a fish in some water with the gravel to test for poisons. A cheep guppy or something like that will do. A goldfish might be too hardy and not be affected by any small amount of toxins in the sand to be able to tell anything, but if it is safe for kids then it should be safe for fish.