I have used both. I found that the playground sand worked just fine for a tank I had running for about 6 months. Then, I got a good deal on some pure white aragonite type live sand so I went with that in my new tank. I do have to say I like the way the white aragonite sand looks a lot more- whether it's worth the extra cost is up to each person. Also, for whatever reason my maroon clowns "interact" with the aragonite sand more- I guess they recognize it instinctively as being more like their natural habitat maybe, I don't know. Of course, this is good and bad. I sure didn't have huge ditches and piles near the host anemones with the old stuff, but I do now because the Maroons sure love to move it around...