CALCIUM CARBONATE SAND vs SILICA

[shellback]

What are the pros and cons of silica vs calcium sands can the be mixed or should they be seprate. And in the start up a tank can a super fine 80x120 silica sand be used as the subtrate.

[matt]

I think so. From what I've read, the thought that silica sand causes diatom blooms is not really true. Cubera uses silica sand; maybe he'll reply to this.

[GaryP]

I've also read that coralline sands become coated with phosphate and this stops any dissolution of the sand. I have a friend that just started a tank with silica sand from Padre Island. I'm keeping an eye on this to see how it turns out.

Gary

[Henry]

Silica sand should be fine in a tank as the silica in the sand is not soluable. As Josh stated in a dsb the grain size is most important. And the amount of buffering gained from the sand is not much at the all at regular ph of a tank.

Henry