Finding Southdown Sand?

[mxracer19]

Im looking for Southdown sand. I havnt seen it surface in awhile but Im setting up my 120 and its rediculous what people want for aquarium sand...

I found this:
http://www.ronshomeandhardware.com/P...351&Click=1014

Is that the stuff everyone talks about? Has anyone in the Florida regioncome across the cheap aragonite play sand people were talking about in 2004-06? Has anyone seen anything like this at ANY home depot/lowes/walmart? I know they can do intrastore transfers so if I could find it at one I could get it...

HELP!

Thanks,
Matt

[mxracer19]

Update: Cemex has purchased Southdown and Southdown is no more. How about some alternatives?

[tdwyatt]

Good luck. Your best bet at this point in time is to look for play sand and test it with vinegar before buying more than a single bag. Wal-Mort had a deal on some generic play sand for a while (their Crayola colored sands are silicate sand, not calcareous sand), but I don't know if they still carry it.

[TahoeMtn]

Try going to a Masonry suppilier and see what they have. On the west coast we can get Monterey Bay Sand. There is a vinagar test you can use but I forget the procedure.

[Austintatious]

Pets smart sells pure calcium carbonate sand in the reptile section. Not too expensive if they have the big bags.

The white is TOO white... but they sell a more tinted one that I mixed together for a nice shade.

[tdwyatt]

you used to be able to drive to home Despot and buy a pallet load, but to give you an idea of how long it's been since I've seen this much Southdown, the girl in this photo (Kelley) is 14 y/o now...time flies like an arrow (fruit flies like a banana )

[mg]

Originally Posted by TahoeMtn

There is a vinagar test you can use but I forget the procedure.

calcerous based sand will disolve in vinigar. If you add vinigar to this sand, it will fizzle. Silica based sand will not.