Finally Got White Sand

[This Old Spouse]

So after 3 failed attempts to get the sand I wanted without getting a second mortgage, we finally picked up 3 bags of beautiful, ivory colored sand yesterday. It's labeled Granusil Silica Fillers Industrial Quartz.

Has anyone ever used this before? Do you think it will be safe?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Anybody?

 

[Harlequins]

It sounds abrasive,but could be wrong??

 

[This Old Spouse]

It's very, very fine. Would a photo help?

 

[This Younger Spouse]

We just washed and put in a bunch in a new tank that This Old Spouse will use as her hermit crabitat. It is extremely fine, but the tank clears almost right away as the grains fall right to the bottom. Not perfectly clear, but much more clear than with other washed sands we've used.

This is designed for sandblasting applications.

I washed it myself and rubbed it between my fingers quite a lot, as well as along the inside of my arm and back of my hand (more sensitive touch sensation in those regions). It does not feel abrasive. I believe TOS will be posting a pic of how it looks in the tank. And it's a mighty fine looking substrate, I might add. We have high hopes for this.

 

[CrazyAirborne]

ive read quartz sands are fine i thought.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Here's what it looked like 5 minutes after adding the water ...

 

[eaglesaquarium]

If you plan to use that boat in the tank, you might want to either upgrade the tank or downsize the boat.


Water looks pretty clear to me...

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Sorry, I've just seen the other posters name is that your son?

The tank looks great with lighter sand, my sand is aquarium sand, paid too much for aquarium sand that is too dark, I think I would prefer a much lighter sand

 

[This Old Spouse]

If you plan to use that boat in the tank, you might want to either upgrade the tank or downsize the boat.


Water looks pretty clear to me...

Sorry, I've just seen the other posters name is that your son?

The tank looks great with lighter sand, my sand is aquarium sand, paid too much for aquarium sand that is too dark, I think I would prefer a much lighter sand

Erm, nope. Just a smart aleck younger husband.

It was a LONG time and bags of sand later that we finally found this stuff. And I just can't believe how fast it settles down! I've put my entire filter in it from another tank, so it should be cycled in the morning.

This is the new crabitat, that's why the water doesn't go to the top. The rest of their belongings will go in tomorrow. Yay!

 

[Erik]

Sandblasting sand will be fine. Does it have a size listed on the bag? Something like # 20.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Sandblasting sand will be fine. Does it have a size listed on the bag? Something like # 20.

Just "microcrystalline silica." I don't see a grade number anywhere on the bag. But it was in a section marked "sandblasting sand." That's really all I know.

 

[Geoff-]

Quartz sand is fine. Quartz is an exceptionally hard, inert material and is the same stuff your tank glass is made from!

Bottom dwellers will love fine sand. When I put bronze corys into my sand-based tank they went ballistic, they were burying their nose in it until their eyes were covered. Couldn't get enough of it, and even now they hoover up the sand and it comes out their gills as they forage (at first I went "what the hell??" thinking there was something wrong but it's quite entertaining to watch).

 

[Erik]

Not only is sandblasting quartz. but it screened for size and very clean (it's been rinsed several times). It comes in several sizes and does not seem to compact like sand making it very easy to clean. It's cheap and plants grow well in it.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Quartz sand is fine. Quartz is an exceptionally hard, inert material and is the same stuff your tank glass is made from!

Bottom dwellers will love fine sand. When I put bronze corys into my sand-based tank they went ballistic, they were burying their nose in it until their eyes were covered. Couldn't get enough of it, and even now they hoover up the sand and it comes out their gills as they forage (at first I went "what the hell??" thinking there was something wrong but it's quite entertaining to watch).

Agreed!