Testing Sand

[TahoeMtn]

I have read on here somewhere that you can test sand before you buy it to make sure it is the right stuff. We don't have "Southdown Sand" here but we do have some called "Lupis Luster" Monterey Bay Sand. If I remember the test involved vinagar and bubbling? Also the sand is graded accoring to grit size. Is the smallest grain the best or should I be able to see small shell fragments in it?

[afbengochea]

aragonite sand will bubble/fizz when dropped in vinegar. The sand type really depends on what u like and how much flow u have. If its the sugar fine stuff, it might get blown around the tank depending on how u have the flow pointed within the tank

[tdwyatt]

shell fragments = silicone and phosphate release into the tank, do not add sand with shell fragments in it to a reef system if possible. Sugar sized has the ideal size for subtrate for most reef creatures, and total dissolution of half a teasponful of the sand in half a cup of vinegar means that it is all composed of calcium carbonate without a portion of silicate sand (what we want is 100% aragonite, not a blend).

HTH

[TahoeMtn]

Thanks, I will let you know the results of the local sand

[TahoeMtn]

Oh yeah what kind of vinagar white red distilled ???

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by TahoeMtn

Oh yeah what kind of vinagar white red distilled ???

Probably does not matter, although I keep a gallon of white distilled vinegar here to clean equipment with anyway, so that would be my reverence.

BTW, wally world, although not my favorite place to recommend to folks, usually has some playsand out in the garden section in larger stores that has aragonite sand in bags, somewhere here I believe I have the sku for the product. Test a sample first, then it should be good to go. Remember, the tank will look like a milkshake for a few days until the biofilms start to form (a few days) or settling occurs without biofilms (about a week).

[tabwyo]

Hey TD. Would you recomend rinseing?? Or are the sand fines a good thing?? Kinda always wanted to know that.