Silicia play sand

[merk1_99]

Is there any scientific data showing silicia based sand causes diatom outbreaks? I have used it in the past and never had an issue but I still hear people say its not good to use.

Not looking for personal theories like the aragonite sand buffers the tank. When it takes a really low pH to dissolve the aragonite and at that pH level your marine fish would be dead.

 

[JohnK]

Have you seen this article?
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm


Randy (and google) rocks

 

[gobie1313]

Very interesting.....do you need some diatoms for your tank?LOL. I have arogonite on bottom layer, then sand on top. I'm not sure if it contains sicilate.

 

[merk1_99]

I read that a long time ago. That was what I was looking for. Thanks

 

[JohnK]

Very interesting.....do you need some diatoms for your tank?LOL. I have arogonite on bottom layer, then sand on top. I'm not sure if it contains sicilate.

Take a few grains of the sand on top and look at them under a magnfiying glass. If it's argonite sand it will be little spheres. Silicate sand will look jagged with sharp edges.

FWIW, the article shows that silicate sand can/will release much more silicate than argnoite sand. Whats not really clear is how much silicate is a problem.

It also sounds like there may be other processes at work in an established tank, but I don't want to try to interpet Randy's work. Maybe he will comment here?

 

[Joel A]

i know that my tank has silica based play sand in it.. and just from looks alone i wish i had gone with higher quality stuff...

 

[JohnK]

i know that my tank has silica based play sand in it.. and just from looks alone i wish i had gone with higher quality stuff...

How was your tank in the beginning? Did you have a lot of diatoms, or did they pass quickly?

 

[Joel A]

Did have a decent amount of diatoms, and they were followed by a NASTY red slime algae outbreak.. (still can't figure out if the red slime is considered cyano, because i thought cyano was "blue/green").

However, i cant say that the sand led me 100% into that mess, as i did have high nutrient levels as well.

How was your tank in the beginning? Did you have a lot of diatoms, or did they pass quickly?

 

[JohnK]

Umm,

I'm wondering about the process of the tank cycling in. What makes the PITA algae of the day shift from diatoms to other pest algaes?

 

[Joel A]

Umm,

I'm wondering about the process of the tank cycling in. What makes the PITA algae of the day shift from diatoms to other pest algaes?

are you asking for my input?

My views on it were this: tank went through a normal, if not even speedy cycle process, but then not long after some high levels in nutrients led to another algae outbreak that i could not get rid of... one day it actually corrected itself on its own, i assume because the tank matured..