Kids Play Sand

[basboi85]

So Ive been looking at getting rid of my gravel for a while now as I keep seeing all these beautiful tanks with sand in them and I've been totally won over by it, my question is I've seen on various posts about using kids play sand and is it safe to use I've seen this through google search

http/www.google.co.uk/m/products/catalog?q=childrens+play+sand&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12677246930309608446&sa=X&ei=eQvzT9G_CaG50QWKgc2vCQ&ved=0CHIQ8wIwAg#

it says non toxic

Just unsure of getting it as I don't want to harm my fishes. I've seen a tank decor lay out that I love in a book and I'm going to be naughty a copy it ( I'll get the wife to spank me later )

So is it safe to use

 

[LoachLover!]

Play sand is great. I got mine from argos for about £3.00 per 15kg. Just rinse it and it's generally safe to put in. This is the one I used:

http/www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3650574/Trail/searchtext%3EPLAY+SAND.htm

 

[Electric Warrior]

Yeah, play sand is completely fine and safe to use. I use B&Q play sand in my tank, and it's great.

 

[justin85]

I use Premium Silica Sand its really fine and looks spot on. you can get 25kg bag off ebay for about 40£ ish.

 

[hensonc4098]

Perfect for tanks. Argos is good and cheap, £3 or £4 for 15kg. It's all non-toxic and been washed etc. so fine to put in the tank. You might want to rinse it out though in a bucket first as it will likely be quite dusty, unless you don't mind letting the tank be a bit cloudy for a day or two and let the filter do the hard work for you The cloudiness won't hurt the fish - just looks a bit unsightly.

 

[basboi85]

Cool thanks for all replys much appreciated

 

[basboi85]

So here's the entire layout I want but with sand instead of gravel obviously with more plants

Misspelled grammar

 

[Cupster]

Still considering sand for my new setup.

Do you just use sand or do you need to put a substrate underneith for planting etc?

 

[Staxx]

ive just changed mind to argos playsand.. it needs to be washed really really really well. i thought i washed mine enough but as soon as i put it in the tank its turned swamp like.

 

[colleen0309]

I use sakrete washed and sifted play sand. It doesn't need much, if any washing and my water is crystal clear in 15 minutes.Don't get the regular play sand if you don't have to.

 

[Mauigirl]

ive just changed mind to argos playsand.. it needs to be washed really really really well. i thought i washed mine enough but as soon as i put it in the tank its turned swamp like.

I used play sand in one of my smaller tanks,
I filled a bucket 1/4 way with sand at a time, stuck a garden hose in and stirred it up filling to top then tilted bucket almost immediately dumping most of the water and any suspended stuff.
repeated quite a few times. I lost a bit of the sand this way but only retained the larger, quicker to settle grains.

After this method my 50lbs was probably closer to 40lbs or a bit less

 

[Staxx]

i washed 3 15kg bags earlier almost the same way just with a big tub, lost about 2kg total maybe

 

[ubergrrrl]

we used b+q sand in our 2ft tank, £4.99 for 25kg

looks awesome and keeps very clean

washing took about 30-45 mins in a big bucket with a hose and other half sitting there swishing it about! Lost a bit of smaller grains but not much!

in my avatar pic you can see my vampire shrimp sitting on it!