Not another Silcan Sand thread

Hey guys,

Being in the bulding industry, I am constantly on the lookout for new technology on building, and with Government Gazetting that houses have to comply with a certain thermal factor... building with standard brick and mortar is going to become a thing of the past, (as well as illegal) within the next few years.

My company has secured the rights to a 'lightweight concrete' recipe for South Africa, and we are rolling out our first steel frame house, cladded in lightweight concrete soon in Midrand. One of the key ingredients is an EXTREMELY fine Silca Sand. I have just arrived on site, and had a look at the Silca Sand that was delivered... and let me tell you something... this stuff is BEAUTIFUL. It is rated at 0.01mm in diameter, and looks absolutely AMAZING compared to normal pool filter sand. This stuff is the same colour as a good (CLEAN) beachfront on our coast, and finer than salt!!

[Just a side issue--- I bought a 1 TON bag of the stuff for R110.00. That's equivalent to 25 bags that you normally get from Builder's etc for half that price. Only problem is I believe they ONLY sell in bulk. Delivery was R220.00.]

Now I have a few problematic questions that I'd like to ask the experts:

With this stuff being so fine.. how on earth would I be able to clean it? Would it usable in an aquarium? I know the plants will LOVE this substrate... but cleaning it is going to be the biggest downfall. I'd like to put it in because it looks so stunning... but then again, I don't want to put it in if it's going to cause too much hassle in the tank. Should I just put some in a bucket of water, swirl it around a bit and syphon off the 'dusty' water a few time and just hope that in the long term the filters will take out the rest of the dust?

My other problem is that I have quite a few fish that would need to be relocated into my small 40l take for a few hours/days whilst I take out the old silica sand and put in the new. Might need to run the tank a few hours/days thereafter to get rid of the cloudy water. (I'm assuming the sand has dust in and will cloud up the water.)

I realise it's not ideal for the fish at the moment. Any other suggestions?

If I do go this route, should I leave a handful or 2 of the old silca sand at the bottom to 'seed' the new sand? Has anyone got any foolproof substrate that I could put UNDER the substrate to assist with the plant growth? Or is liquid ferz sufficient. I know some people add potting soil underneath, but I'm not crazy about the idea of putting something underneath that will rot away eventually, and cause nitrate problems in the long haul. I also don't want anythig that would have to be changed.... ever. (Well.. at least for 4 or 5 years until I get my monstor 500l tank!)

 

Flourite will work. Doesn't go off...

That's what i'm using in my planted Discus tank

 

YES... well considering the 5tons of sand was coming from Vereeniging being delivered to Midrand... the price wastn't too bad. But it's R220 per load... and that load can be 1 bag up to 6 bags

here's a pic of the stuff...

 

Zoom can you Pm me these peoples contact details please I have a 1000lt Tank that I want a make a planted discus tank so need a lot of substrate..
Thanks

 

That sand looks BEAUTIFUL! :captain: Damn, I've already ordered my riversand!

 

Did you say that was silica sand Zoom???? Wow!

Why not take some of your 'old' silica sand and put a layer of it underneath the new and improved silica? That way you won't see the old silica but it will provide good seeding for the new silica.

What we did when we changed our substrate was to wash the new stuff well and once we were ready we moved the fish into a bucket with a heater inside while we did the changeover. We kept as much of the original tank water in large containers and added it back into the tank once we had changed out the substrate, topped up with fresh water making sure the temp was about the same as that in the fish 'bucket' and put the fish back in the tank. If it is a little cloudy for a few days, the fish won't be affected negatively. It sure beats stressing them out twice by moving them into another tank, letting them get all settled in there for a few days, catching them again and moving them back into the original tank (IMO anyway)

 

Me like - Me want

 

I like the price

 

Me like it too. But how am I going to use 1 TON of the stuff!!!! Except buying a 'few' more tanks??? LOL

 

wouldnt that stuff be a bit too fine? In terms of being blown around in the tank?

 

That looks exactly like the playsand that I bought for R35 a bag at ToyZone...
It started out that colour and ended up white after washing it. I've also got Flourite under my sand for the plants.

 

I'm looking forward to giving it a try. I promised my boss that I wouldn't take any yet until we were finished using it.. and I would take from the left over..

Mongwopman... you pose a very true point... I really don't know how it would react to currents in the water. Hmmm....?

Also pity about the quantitiy you have to buy it in... maybe someone wants to but a ton and sell it off to LPS and fishy people. Sorry guys.. I would be more than happy to get a ton, hire a guy to spend 3 days cleaning it, and then sell it to everyone at R50.00 for a 40kg.... but living in my flat.... space is VERY limited.. let along lugging a 1ton back up the stairs)

 

I will take the TON - I just need it delivered to CT ?????????????

 

Erm - where are we putting it Gav??? But a ton sounds good - just let me know when you plan on cleaning it so I can make sure I'm busy

 

Hey Vee - There is some space left in the Lounge

 

Do you guys (Zaf and Vee) only chat to each other online...? Are you guys even in the same room?

 

Not the same room - Vee is in her Study, I am in the Lounge. No we chat all the time online and offline...

 

Not a chance!!! I put my foot down to sand in the lounge...another tank, now THAT'S different :bigsmile:

Yip Zoom - it's just easier for me to comment on here rather than to walk ALLLLLL the way to the lounge or to shout across the house

 

Might want to factor in the cost of the water required to clean 1 ton of sand... :/ I know when cleaning gravel I practically use bathfulls...

Just chuck 1 ton of sand in the pool and it will *almost* be like swimming in the sea.