Yardright tropical play sand...Cheap arogonite sand for you

[superwizbang]

Ok, so I need sand for my new 90g. Paying $200 for live sand is out of the question. I want a DSB. What do I do?

A lot of research. Home Depot sells some sand made by Yardright (I won't go into the history, but suffice it to say OldCastle and SouthDown are the same things...) and it is called Play Sand. It used to be called Tropical Play Sand. It is mined in the Bahamas and sent to the eastern part of the United States. It costs between $2-$5 for a 50lb bag. It is argonite. If you want more information and history, Google Southdown Tropical Sand. It passes the vinegar test and has been proven by many aquarists as reef safe.

The trick is getting it. It is only available in the eastern US if you are checking at Home Depot. The midwest uses a different mine and provides brown sand. Some enterprising folks have gone in together and had a pallet shipped (which I would love to do, but dont need a pallet for the 150# I need). I have listed the UPDATED Home Depot SKU # that I got from inquery calling a HD in PA. The woman ASSURED ME that this is the WHITE variety and the SKU/UPC numbers are correct (she has some in her kid's sand box in the back yard...bought it because she liked the white color).

PLEASE NOTE: This SKU # can come in BROWN (silicate) and WHITE (argonite) depending on your region and the initial source of the sand. BE VERY CAREFUL TO CHECK before you order sight unseen.

SKU: #169803 (may differ depending on your location)
UPC: 009066700374
Part: 11351

http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/pro.../playsand.html

[motorslave]

Great post but as a Manager for HD there are two things to consider; they get a silcate based sand that is white and is listed as play sand and sku's arent always your best bet to use when looking for something. Alss, someone assuring you over the phone can be a very disapointing thing at HD. Just speaking from experience on the "inside"

Robert

[motorslave]

But you are right that many Hds sell aragonite. The best way to test if not sure is to drop vinegar on it, if it bubbles, buy it.

Robert

[Aphyosemion]

That is mighty disappointing for someone living in Minnesota and calculating $120 for the aragonite sand for my tank, plus shipping. If I could get the same thing for $10 I would hop in my car right now.
-Aphyosemion

[motorslave]

Just make some calls! Check with any building supply including HD and Lowes. Yes, I said Lowes ( Im going to be flogged when I go to work!

Robert

[Aphyosemion]

So, I call HD and Lowes and ask if they have white play sand. If they say Yes, I sidle on up to a bag and casually start eating a salad. THEN, I say, WHOOPS, I SEEM TO HAVE SPILLED MY VINEGAR and splash a couple drops on the sand! If it fizzes, I grab a couple bags and go to the counter.
-Aphyosemion

[motorslave]

Exactly! Actualy there is always some breakage from handling when you deal with that stuff in the quantities we do. I would say to just call and ask but with what companies pay these days youd be lucky to get someone who knows the differeance. If you check with a HD by all meens use the num,bers given above that can speed things up. The original post is great, I was just giving fair warning that products can change market to market and a market for HD can change from a store that is two miles from another store. If you check with other places have them read the bag, amazingly some employees never do this.

Robert

[4RD TEK]

I have about 7 bags in the basement that I bought from LITH HD. I'm not sure if I'm going to use it, I may go barebottom, that another thread. No, I'm not going to sell it at this point.

[craigGP]

anyone tell me if yardright is available near them? i'm going to FL in November and might be driving my F250. i know i won't find it going thru MO or IL, but starting in paducah, KY, i'll be on I-24 to chattanooga, then I-75 to orlando. i figured that my best bet would be in KY, TN, GA, and FL.

thanks

craig

[tims]

nice background info and nice heads up everyone!

[kfoell]

i have used this sand in 5 tanks. from 125 down to a 30. both fresh and salt. both reef and fish only. i love the grain size. real fine. easy to keep clean in a fish only tank. just use a fine mesh net and swirl over sand and quick as lightning tank is pristine. only draw back is it is real dirty. takes alot of rinsing to clean before use. otherwise i would highly recomend its use. ok heres the deal... i live about an hour and a half away from easton, pa that is where old castles facility is. i also am a truck driver so picking up a pallet or so is no problem. looking for 2 (4 ways)to split a pallet(have myself and one pet store). any local pet stores or hobbyist looking to get in let me know. i live just outside wilkes barre, pa. my email is kenfoell@yahoo.com

[mg]

This thread is 2 years old and they no longer collect this sand as of about 1 year ago. Some people are now using silica based play sand that can be picked up at home depot.

[tdwyatt]

I will go to my LEAST FAVORITE, MOST DESPISED retailer and find out if they still have an aragonite-based calcium sand in the garden department and bring back the SKU for you folks only because I like you guys, they were carrying it at one time... (no, I LIKE going to Home Despot, it is not Blowes nor the Orange Box, but my Most Despised Retailer-mart has around 30 checkouts and only two are open for at least 50 customerts and seems to frequently share the parking lot withe the HD)

Old Castle may be available from Ace hardware stores as well, seems they did at one time sell it. Make the rounds of your local garden centers and landscapers as well as a few hardware stores with outdoor sections and see if they have any white "play sand" or Caribbean sand that you might test with some white vinegar, the effort is worth the potential to save $120 bux for sure. Bags of Silicate sand are required to have the "use a filter mask" yadda yadda yadda warning on them, so bags that do not have this are probably calcium based, a good place to start if you're out shopping around.


HTH, it's good to see old threads surface again.

[tims]

tom, next time you are playing wiht the sand. do the vinegar test and take some pictures of it so members can"see" what happens

[Spongebobsquarepants]

I work at HD .... and its hard for me to transfer it in do to the season. Every thing from Old Castle to just plan play sand all comes from (or is shipped tho) Quickcete company. I did run that sku tho my systems at work came up empty handed ... Said the sku was IN-Active just means its closesd for the season. I going to try to do a U.S search later on and see if i can find a store in the U.S that may have some .. lol i like a bag or two my self. If not i got contact numbers to vendors i can give a shot and find out few things .