Bomix sand

[Michael]

Hi.
I was wondering if any one has used this sand. It is pool filtration sand (sold by Rona).
-There was some doubt as to whether or not pool filtration sand was silica based or not.

-any comments welcomed.

Michael

[sumpfinfishe]

IYWMO I would go to your LFS and pay the $29 for a 30lb bag of aragonite sugar sand-least that way it's 100% safe and it's not expensive at a $1 a pound!

cheers, sumpfinfishe

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by sumpfinfishe

IYWMO I would go to your LFS and pay the $29 for a 30lb bag of aragonite sugar sand-least that way it's 100% safe and it's not expensive at a $1 a pound!

Maybe his lfs doesn't have aragonite at a $1/lb. None of ours do.

[Old Guy]

Many people have successfully used silica based sand for beds including sandblasting types. The problem is the fact that there is no buffering capabilties like argonite sand which helps maintain ph and alk. Now if you are using calc reactors, driping kalk etc., to keep the levels up,problem solved. If not, I would spend the extra on the argonite.

[Buccaneer]

What buffering would argonite provide ?

Cheers

[Old Guy]

Argonite slowly disolves releasing calcium and carbonates into your water. If you ever wanted to keep an African Cichid tank, use crushed coral for a substrate and you would have PH 8+ and alk approx 14 without any other additives. Saltwater is a lot slower in reaction but your sandbed will shrink in time.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Rasta

What buffering would argonite provide ?

Cheers

none of any measurable importance.. the benifit of the "sugar sand" is more the size and shape.. silica sand has sharp edges (sugar sand is smooth and oval shaped) and some "experts" feel that it is harder on the "bugs" that live and move througth the sand... I tend to agree with them.

Steve

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Old Guy

Argonite slowly disolves releasing calcium and carbonates into your water. If you ever wanted to keep an African Cichid tank, use crushed coral for a substrate and you would have PH 8+ and alk approx 14 without any other additives. Saltwater is a lot slower in reaction but your sandbed will shrink in time.

If you set your PH in your calcium reactor to 8.0 - 8.4 ( typical reef tank ) how much of the argonite do you think will dissolve ?

Cheers

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Maybe his lfs doesn't have aragonite at a $1/lb. None of ours do.

Agreed....I think it's about $50+ in Victoria for a 30# bag.

[sumpfinfishe]

The Aragamax Sugar Sand is still selling for $29.95 at J&L's and that's the same price I paid two years ago

Even if it was $50 a bag I would still pay the higher price.
IMO I think it's better off to pay the extra for the long term.
Besides, last time I checked-Silica sand is what hotels and resturants use in there ashtrays