Would play sand not be the same as

[Fish Buddy]

In terms of it being inert and not changing the water chemistry? I have a feeling it would be the same-so maybe I can get it for free from a place I know of.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Reckon it would be the same!

 

[lovebuzz]

You'd be better off buying your own. People have walked in that sand, probably dropped things, and things that are in there might change your pH. Buying the sand is best.

 

[jimw13uk]

I saw a thread on another forum a while back - a guy wanted to take beach sand and use it "cos its free" he said - well everyone advised him against it as people , dogs , etcc have walked on it and done other things on it but he decided he knew best - so off he goes and fills his tank with lovely beach sand and sorts the tank out - gets it up and running but couldnt keep the water parameters stable.
Eventually he took all the sand out and replaced it with bought stuff and everything seemd ok.

Now this was on a thread so he could have been making it up but that was the line of the thread

I woudl think its safer to go for the "bought play sand" for the sake of a few quid its not worth that hassle IMHO

 

[jimw13uk]

Oh yeah the bloke on the thread was from New Jersey

 

[chkltcow]

Well first off, it's New Jersey. That explains a lot

As for buying vs. free.... a bag of play sand is what, $5 for 50 lbs? Fork out the money for it man... that's cheap. Just wait till you do saltwater and have to pay the price for real aragonite sand, then you can complain about the price of it

 

[jimw13uk]

I thought the NJ reference might be important as a few people on the other forum all said something similar
Means nothing to me as a Brit

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would advise buying proper auarium sand from your lfs too; its not realy worth the risks just grabbing any sand lying around that who knows what could have happened to it or what it has in it.
Also you can get some realy nice sand from lfs's; at mine they have a realy nice fine variety that comes in green, blue, yellow/natural, red, black etc.

 

[Fish Buddy]

Well the place I am thinking of is on my grampa's property so no one walks there (much anyway-just family). I also think it would be clean becuase it's in the woods-not by the road.
I'm just curious if the pH perameters would be the same.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...I wouldn't add ANYTHING from outdoors to my tank. Sorry, but, I think you're just looking for trouble. There are many ways to cut corners here...I don't think that putting safe substrate into your tank is one of them. Just my opinion. SH

 

[Dorkhedeos]

just buy a bag from home depot or something. a 25 pound bag only costed me 3 dollars. are you really that cheap? cause you cant be any cheaper than me, or you are really cheap.



Edit: oh yeah, you will probably have to do more washing with sand thats been outside than buying sand in a bag. theres probably more dust in the bag, but that goes away quickly

 

[dwarf-puffers]

i wouldnt do that! the sand in sand pits has all kinds of paricites and bacteria in in i tried it to see if my plant would live longer and the next day all my fish where going made they had clouded eyes and fungus on there tail the guppies where tried to rip of the fungus it was a disater this was a while a go so i wouldnt recomened it i say it better of just buying some hope this helps!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Fish Buddy

Another thing to consider too is that play sand is rounded sand. (Some sand is crushed rock and has sharp edges.) It is safe for the delicate skin of children and safe for the fragile barbels that some bottom dwellers have.

My advice to you is to buy it from Home Depot or other reputable source.

 

[Raechal]

Play sand is $1.67 a 40lb bag at walmart in the garden section.

 

[rdd1952]

The rounded sand will stay looser too since the rounded edges don't fit together. Sand that has sharper straight edges can mesh together and will pack easier which can cause other problems.