Check this out

[::pete::]

While loading the truck I noticed this on the bag of play sand we purchased for the kids sandboxes.

Wouldnt this be southdown in another package?

Walmarts version. :)

[JimD]

Pete, never seen that brand before, take a few granuals and put them in some white vinegar, if it sizzles, its most likely calcium based.. if not, silica.

[::pete::]

So we are looking for the sizzle? Ill be right back with the answer.

Didnt do anything. Covered the bottom of an on the rocks glass and added an equal part of white vinegar ... nothing.

[JimD]

Ohhhh the suspense! lol :-)

[::pete::]

Edit ... above

[JimD]

Bummer

[SBreef]

After reading all of the posts on Rc, some walmarts have the right type of sand. I have checked the area stores, and it is all basic sand.

Roy

[::pete::]

OK ... ill look tomorrow and grab some from HD if there is any in stock!!! No promises.

[GaryP]

Just to clarify, SouthDown is the playground trade name for aragonite. Caribsea id the aquarium trade name. I may be wrong on this, but I don't think so.

Gary

[brewercm]

That's interesting Pete because Oldcastle is the company that supposedly bought out Southdown.

[::pete::]

That's interesting Pete because Oldcastle is the company that supposedly bought out Southdown.

Thats what I thought when I saw the bar code and figured it might be in the Walmarts there.

[::pete::]

I have been doing a little searching and came across these 2 sites.

http://www.yardright.com/sand.htm

http://crabstreetjournal.com/products/substrates/playsand.html

Now Im confused :? , If this sand (above) has silica in it ... and you purchase this sand for your kids their health is at risk? Now it would seem that there would be some huge law suit somewhere if this is true.

Also if silica is an ingredient in making glass doesnt that make a glass tank useless or is it that it cant leach from the glass?

Another .... http://safesand.com/information.htm

[GaryP]

Pete,

You lost me somewhere. Why would silica be toxic? Chemically, its one of the most inert compounds out there.

Gary

[matt]

Silica based sand is fine for an aquarium. Silicates will not leech into the system from silica based sand. Theoretically, aragonite based sands can help with buffering, but the dissolution of aragonite in water is ph dependent. For there to be significant buffering from the aragonite, you'd have to have a VERY low tank ph, far too low for the survival of many inhabitants. Kind of like turning your tank into a giant calcium reactor.

[dan]

so can we use this sand from home depot?

[::pete::]

Pete,

You lost me somewhere. Why would silica be toxic? Chemically, its one of the most inert compounds out there.

Gary
Im just referring to the links that I posted. They say its toxic.

I posted on a couple other boards too. There are alot of people using silica based sand and they are having no problems either.

Dan ... this was from Wally World

[JimD]

Silica sand to me just looks, oh, I dunno, UGLY? It doesnt give that tropical, pristine look that oolitic offers.. Nice and white!

[Sunhutch]

Are you gonna let your kids play in the silica based sand? I have some in my daughters sandbox I and was suprised to see those links. I dont remmber any warning label on the bags I purchased, must be a CA thing. Here in Texas I'm sure were not as "sensitive" to those things like Cali. I think at the very least I'll make sure the sand is damp so as not to create dust.

Ken

[::pete::]

Jim
I agree I was just wondering about all the silica talk and that it couldnt be used.
Ken
When its packed Ill dump it and get new.