silicone sand

[Newsjes]

I want to add silicone sand to a freshwater mainly amazon fish aquarium. How
do I clean it? What is your opinion regarding the pH? Thanks.

[Marcus Fox]

"Newsjes" > wrote in message
...
> I want to add silicone sand to a freshwater mainly amazon fish aquarium.
How
> do I clean it? What is your opinion regarding the pH? Thanks.

Do you not mean "silica sand"? Silicone is the sealant used to hold the
glass panes together in your fish-tank. As for cleaning it, I would say you
wouldn't be able to vacuum it like normal gravel substrate. You may be able
to syphon off the crud with some of the top layer of sand into a bucket,
then separate the two before you put it back into the tank.

Marcus

[Bruce Abrams]

"Marcus Fox" > wrote in
message ...
>
> "Newsjes" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I want to add silicone sand to a freshwater mainly amazon fish aquarium.
> How
> > do I clean it? What is your opinion regarding the pH? Thanks.
>
> Do you not mean "silica sand"? Silicone is the sealant used to hold the
*snip*

If it's truly silica sand that's being discussed, look elsewhere. Silica
dust is a very severe lung irritant that causes lung cancer.

[Robert Flory]

"Bruce Abrams" > wrote in message
v.net...
>
> "Marcus Fox" > wrote in
> message ...
> >
> > "Newsjes" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I want to add silicone sand to a freshwater mainly amazon fish
aquarium.
> > How
> > > do I clean it? What is your opinion regarding the pH? Thanks.
> >
> > Do you not mean "silica sand"? Silicone is the sealant used to hold the
> *snip*
>
> If it's truly silica sand that's being discussed, look elsewhere. Silica
> dust is a very severe lung irritant that causes lung cancer.
>
Most sand is quartz.. = silica. Unless it is some sort of calcite or
aragonite sand ... not common or a black (basaltic) sand. And silica dust
is a killer.... but any type of dust can cause the same sort of problem,
silica dust being angular is just worst. Asbestos causes problems because
of the sharp needling crystals.....

I use Monterey Sand.... a paleo-beach sand, mostly quartz, some plagioclase
and etc. It is thought that "sharp" sand as opposed to rounded is rough on
some bottom fish. Any reasonably coarse sane will work, too fine and you
may have trouble.

bob