[Delphinus]

Yeah, not only is it not available in Canada, it's hardly available in the U.S. except for only a few select states in the east. For example, we couldn't just go for a drive down to Montana and get some, nor can the guys in Vancouver hop over the border and pick up some in Washington, because it's not there either! Not even in California.

So there you have it: Southdown is only economical if you are able to go your local HD and buy some. If we were to order Southdown sand (I am sure someone would sell us some if we looked hard enough), the problem will be by the time it's shipped over here (and we'd probably have to order a minimum of a pallet's worth), the shipping costs will absolutely kill us, and we won't have saved any money over having just gone to Big Al's and buying the Caribsea sand for $50-60 per 30lb. bag.

Here are my suggestions for economical white sand:

- white silica sand
- sandblasting sand
- shot pein (sp?)

Ross and Kim have gone this route in their tanks and perhaps they can elaborate on the costs and advantages/disadvatages and where you can get it and all that.

If calcium sand is the only way to go, then SWC sells the sand that is "just like" Caribsea but at half the cost. If you only need a bag or two and are willing to go a bit out of your way, there is a guy up in Edmonton who had ordered a pallet (just like I did, but I ran out of sand earlier this fall). He might have some left. I forget who it is, but you can get the contact info from Jayson, or from Dez, or perhaps do a search in the "Edmonton Reef Club" forum on sand, I'm sure his name will turn up..

If there is enough interest, I could maybe be talked into hosting another pallet of sand again for Calgary, but this time I won't do it unless there is sufficient interest to basically pre-sell at least half the pallet right away. It took me six months to sell off the sand that I had, and I have very limited storage capabilities so I don't want that to happen again where I'm stuck with 50 bags in my shed for six months...

If we could do it this way then the bags would be had for $25 per bag, which is a pretty good deal considering the Caribsea alternative is twice that.