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home depo sand

6K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  bluesdude 
#1 ·
Was just looking at a bag of HD play sand and noticed that the state of Calif. says this stuff causes cancer and birth defects because of the crystalline silica and other stuff. Then they put a label on it. play sand, especially for kids play boxes.ya right my kids will never play in this sand.What is up with this. Can someone tell me.not cool.Thanks.

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: eaglelox ]
 
#3 ·
Are you sure it is Southdown playsand? Southdown is 100% aragonite not silica and should not be a problem. Silica sand has the warning because inhaleing the dust can cause silicosis (sp) I don't know much more about the subject, sorry. Bob
 
#4 ·
In its infinite wisdom the state of california requires such labeling if there is even the remotest possibilty of something happening. I have a travel cup I picked up there that has "Caution, contents may be hot" in big letters on the lid!!!Doh its a coffee cup
 
#7 ·
Hi Eagle...

I went through HD to have them ship the SD I got from Pittsburgh. I looked at the other stuff they had and it would have worked, but it was a bit darker than I wanted. I did find some white white silica sand locally that had the silicosis label on it, but ended up talking HD into sending the SD to me here in Cincy.

I think it probably would be okay, as long as the size was right.

If you do add it to an existing tank though BY ALL MEANS follow Bill-E's advice if possible. Put it in a rubbermaid for a week before, with saltwater, adding it.

I didn't do that, just washed it, and my tank looks like poo poo right now.

You might also run this by Dr Rondo and see what he says.
 
#9 ·
eagle

yea i was just checkin out some HD sand this weekend...wondering if it would work, or probably better off just buyin quality live sand from a good fish shop...

as far as the warning label, i saw a similar label on a model train car of all things, i called the company and they said if theres even a tiny amount of something nasty in there they gotta put on that "scary as hell if you got kids" label

btw, how much live sand would i need for a 125 gal tank?...and how deep do i need to go?

thanks and happy reefing

blue
 
#11 ·
That sand is silica based not aragonite like southdown. There is currently lots of debate about its suitability in reef tanks. The general consensis is that its ok, but does not have the buffering ability that aragonite has. Personally, I wouldn't use it.

You can pretty much forget getting southdown in CA. The most western home depot that I'm aware of that carries it is in Ohio.

HOWEVER, I happen to remember that on reef central a fellow in CA is selling some of it. http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/showthread.php? 63c5cd98654eb431626cc332e58ed&threadid=35195

hopefully you can follow that link. If not, look in reef central under the equipment trading listings. (BTW, Reef Central is a GREAT site - much like this but also has trading/buy-sell)

You can certainly go by the sand from the LFS but it is EXACTLY the same stuff as
Southdown.

Cheers!
 
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