31 replies to this topic

[Dylan Simmons]

is play sand from bunnings safe to use in an aquarium? 

[zacy boy]

i have used it mate, just be sure to give it a quick rinse first!

[JackMack]

From what I can tell it slightly raises the PH but apart from that and as zacy boy mentioned, rinse it.
Just a heads up though it can be a real pain to gravel vac so invest in some bottom feeders of some description.

Edited by JackMack, 18 September 2013 - 06:58 PM.

[Dylan Simmons]

thanks mate the ph increase is what im looking for for malawis and i didnt even know it did that so thats a bonus, i have 3 baby bristlenose and this is in a 4fter i want a colony of some sort and a breeding pair of bn in there any suggestions?

[malawiman85]

Safe yes but doesnt look as good as river sand. I reckon the playsand is a bit fine tends to get stirred up easy and takes a while for the water to clear up. But for the price its hard to go past.

[ant86]

I find plays and clups together when in water, fish don't like it and sucks to clean..

[slink]

Go to soils ain't soils and get the river sand cost about $6-$9 a bag and looks a lot better

[JackMack]

The only fish I've seen react badly so far are oscars.
I suggest you don't breed BN in a cichlid tank as they may get picked off pretty quickly, entirely up to you though.
 

[Dylan Simmons]

alright thanks for the information ill have a look at some river sand

[Bowdy]

The only fish I've seen react badly so far are oscars.

How exactly have they reacted badly ??


Great to see everyone catching on to the river sand. Much better. But if you want something that will raise ph then oversize lime sand is great.

[Kleinz]

Never had a problem with Bunnings' playsand. Might be iffy in a strong current, but that's the case with all fine substrates.

[smirq]

I'm using play sand, though I'd have preferred to have gone with river (Tam). Fish seem happy, PH hovers around 7.2 (lots of tannin from wood too), and plants doing ok. Did take a lot of washing to get rid of the cloudiness.

[JackMack]

Not sure what was wrong with them, had two in at work for about a month and they'd constantly go in and out of good health.
I have a feeling it may have gotten in their gills or something of the sort.

Will have to try river sand out when i get a chance, does it come in black?

Cheers

[Bowdy]

I don't think the sand is the problem there mate.

Nope not in black.

[JackMack]

Just my opinion as the other 15 or so sand tanks were absolutely fine.

[Westie]

I use the bunnings play sand. There is a thread on another forum warning against using masters play sand

I will definitely give the river sand a go next time

I haven't had any probs with play sand though. Easy enough to syphon any junk out, just use a thin layer of substrate, and wave the siphon just above the top of the substrate and it will pick up the gunk

[Bickley]

Great to see everyone catching on to the river sand. Much better. But if you want something that will raise ph then oversize lime sand is great.

It's not often I agree with Bowdy....I try my hardest not too just for the fun of it but he was right when he told me to go with river sand it is much nicer then play sand and not really that much more expensive... I have had play sand in all my tanks no problems easy to clean as you don't worry about losing a bit of sand when siphoning but recently put river sand in the new 4 footer, doesn't stir up as easy and although play sand looks a lot whiter then it the play sand ends up getting pretty crappy looking after awhile..

[Poncho]

play sand shouldn't affect pH unless it's contaminated. It's silica which is inert

[Buccal]

Completely inert.
Some batches are washed better than others.
The yellow foamy crap is solids like rotten debri.
That rotten crap will spike your aquarium and send ammo through the roof.
It's equivelant to way over feeding.

So, all river sand has to be thoroughly washed.

[Angelo]

i use play sand in my discus tanks and never had any issues. def want to try river sand though..