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fng 
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Joined: May 20 2009
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 Topic: substrate questions
Posted: June 19 2009 at 2:46pm |
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I am wondering about using silica sand for my substrate. Any issues with this?
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BrandonA
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Posted: June 19 2009 at 8:58pm |
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Silica sand from what i've read should be just fine. In fact it seems that's what people used in the old aquarium days when a carbonate sand wasn't available.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 23 2009 at 8:15pm |
Unless it's made up of larger particle size I would not do it. It would be okay but will not last. One of my experiments was with red sand from my neck of the woods. It was anoxic at 1/2 inch, not good. 
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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fng
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Posted: June 23 2009 at 10:17pm |
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I have a lot of the stuff home home depot. It is mixed with the black sand from a pet store, some crushed shells and some small pebbles. It came from a fresh water tank and I am wondering if it will work or If I need to buy something else to set up my reef tank? I have enough to make a layer about 3-4 inches deep across the bottom of the tank.
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downhill_biker
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Posted: June 23 2009 at 10:54pm |
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it would probably work, but i would get new, for 2 reasons. using different particle size sand isn't a good thing in a reef tank due to loss of water movement within the sand with compaction. the other reason is that you can go collect it for free here in utah. if you dont like that, i would buy aragonite from the store. or if you want to save money, i have aragonite that is used, and washed that i would sell you.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: June 24 2009 at 12:47pm |
The benefit of using a substrate made of Aragonite far outweighs the cost savings of using something else, even if it's free and available.
Utah sand is made of Aragonite, as are the typical substrates available from the LFS. And since Utah Sand is essentially free, why would a budget minded person use anything else? 
Here is where you can get the scoop on Utah Sand and other tips on reefkeeping:
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fng
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Posted: June 24 2009 at 1:28pm |
Thanks for the info. I think I will use Utah sand to solve this issue. As for the link to the other post I actually read this entire post about a week ago. It was very informative and I got very excited about the possibilities from this post. I am just starting my Reefkeeping but I have had Freashwater tanks for 3-4 years. I just wasn't sure about the best way to change over.
Thank you to everyone who has been helping me and giving me advice.
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Turbostud653
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Posted: June 24 2009 at 2:23pm |
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Here is what a customer said while on hold Oh my gosh! Did you open the door? I told you not to open the door. Dre is in here completely naked and he's got freak'n Macaroni and Cheese in his hands.
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