I'm confused...again

[George Burnt]

If using tap water for a reef is a sin because it might contain silicates,
why is it ok to use silica based sand? Or I am I compaing apples to oranges
here.

GB

[Mort]

> If using tap water for a reef is a sin because it might contain silicates,
> why is it ok to use silica based sand? Or I am I compaing apples to
oranges
> here.
>
> GB


Not to sound like a jerk but, who recommended you use silica sand in a reef?

~Mort

[Mort]

"Mort" > wrote in message
.com...
> > If using tap water for a reef is a sin because it might contain
silicates,
> > why is it ok to use silica based sand? Or I am I compaing apples to
> oranges
> > here.
> >
> > GB
>
>
> Not to sound like a jerk but, who recommended you use silica sand in a
reef?
>
> ~Mort


Damn it, I KNEW I would regret saying that...

I just read your other thread.

It's been a long time since I looked in to sand but I was told to stay away
from silica sand and to use Southdown if I could find it. I did find it so
that's what I used.

hth

~Mort

[Boomer]

No, you are not comparing apples and organs.There is nothing wrong with silica sand, it is
just that there are better choices. Some hobbyist actually doze their tanks with silica

http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm
--
Boomer

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"George Burnt" > wrote in message
...
: If using tap water for a reef is a sin because it might contain silicates,
: why is it ok to use silica based sand? Or I am I compaing apples to oranges
: here.
:
: GB
:
:

[kim gross]

GB,

The biggest difference is the silicates in the water will feed diatom
algea, the silica sand does not disolve so it does not feed diatom algea.

Kim
http://www.jensalt.com

George Burnt wrote:
> If using tap water for a reef is a sin because it might contain silicates,
> why is it ok to use silica based sand? Or I am I compaing apples to oranges
> here.
>
> GB
>
>

[CapFusion]

"George Burnt" > wrote in message
...
> If using tap water for a reef is a sin because it might contain silicates,
> why is it ok to use silica based sand? Or I am I compaing apples to
oranges
> here.
>

Using silica sand is ok but using tap water full of silica is not too good
unless enjoy pruning algae. Silica sand will eventually leak out silica but
VERY small amount. It the quantity that matter.

CapFusion,...

[Ross Bagley]

"George Burnt" > writes:

> If using tap water for a reef is a sin because it might contain silicates,
> why is it ok to use silica based sand? Or I am I compaing apples to oranges
> here.

The solubility of SiO2 (glass and silica sand) is incredibly low, to
the point that you will never detect the silica that dissolves from
sand in an aquarium on any test kit you can easily buy.

Actually, it's okay to dose silica to a tank (I do it to maintain
silica at 1ppm). Diatoms are an important food source and serve
to naturally remove nutrients from the water that can then be
skimmed or consumed by filter feeders, etc.

The problem comes when the water change water is at 20ppm silica and
your tank goes suddenly from .05ppm to 5ppm. Those are the conditions
under which you get a bloom. I get occasional "blushes" where some
patches of the sand get a reddish darkening, but those disappear within
a day or less in my tank (good live sand crew).

Here's a pretty good article on the subject (including your sand
question): http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm

Regards,
Ross

-- Ross Bagley http://rossbagley.com/rba
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature...
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

[Marx]

Based on your advice i used silica sand in my sump. I had algae bloom
(described in diferent thread today) so i put it off, and don't
recommend it too.
Marx