WTB: southdown sand
 

Does any one know where to get southdown sand.

I have a full 5 gallon bucket full. It was live but has just been sitting in a bucket with no heater/powerhead for a while so probably needs a good rinsing. $20 or $15 if you bring a bucket and lid to replace the one the sand is in.

i've been trying to find it at the home stores since November. no luck.

i was in HD yesterday and i noticed that they're stocking barbecue grills to get ready for the springtime. hopefully this means that the home stores will start stocking with more springtime goods and we'll see the southdown sand appear as a seasonal item.

fingers crossed...

"Southdown" sand has not been available (atleast around here) for several years. Only way to get it recently is to find someone who has a stash and buy it from them.

IMHO, you are better off finding a LFS that is having a sale on CaribSea and getting it from them. I got bags of the Ocean Direct CaribSea sand from Sea Schor last year for $18 per 20# bag. If you are planning to make a large purchase, talk to your LFS and see if you can get a bulk discount.

Several people have used the Quikcrete sand with the green lable from Home Depot. It is supposed to be 100% silica sand and reef safe. Much cheaper than going with packaged aquarium sand, but many of those that tried it did not like the look of it in the tank.

Spend the money and don't get the Quickcrete. I made the mistake and I'm still kicking myself for it. It just doesn't look right.

i wouldn't have considered a silica based sand. that is, until last night when i was reading vol 3 of Delbeek and Sprung, and they said that they're nothing wrong with using a silica based sand. as far as cosmetics go, i think i'd use aragonite for any sort of display tank, but silica would probably be fine in a DSB in a sump where you don't have to look at it.

whats is southdown sand, how does it look.

"Southdown" was aragonite sand from the Carribean packaged in 50# bags and sold as "tropical play sand" at many home improvement stores. It was much cheaper to purchase than standard aquarium sand, but was essentially the same stuff just in a different package.

In the tank it looks just like any other fine grain aragonite sand.

I put an email into HomeDepot head quarters to see if they are ever going to stock it or if we could get a special shipment to a local store. I will update you guys when I find out.

Is there not a problem with silicate sand and algae?

I bought some Kolorscope sand from Home Depot on North Avenue a few weeks back. It was outside in the garden section. Old Castle is the manufacture of the sand and that is supposedly the same as Southdown sand. Its looks a little yellow in the bag, but it is white when taken out. It is a very fine sand. I am not sure but I think it is part aragonite and a small percentage silica. They had a whole pallet of it when I was there.

Kolorscope has silica in it, It's ok to use but not for a DSB, I did a vinegar test to it, it did bubble but some sand left which means theres probably a 25% silica in it. Im going to try to get a special order for this maybe if we get a group of us. I live in NJ, Shipping maybe expensive though.

I've got about 20# in an open bag in my basement , free if you want to pick it up.

There is a huge difference in appearance between Kolorscape and Southdown. The Kolorscape is shiny and "fake" looking and Southdown looks more natural and "beach-like".

Kolorscape isnt pure aragonite it has partial silica, I felt it in my hands its a little coarse, I just emailed Home Depot for a whole pallet of either Yardright or Southdown sand, Keeping my fingers crossed if they can get it, also im going to call oldcastle tommorow there located here in nj, I think perhaps oldcastle dont make this anymore, hmm? Sold it?

I did that, they told me to go talk with my local store.

Kolroscape and Carib Sea
 

Here are some pics of the Kolorscape sand by Oldcastle and Aragamx sugar-sized by CaribSea side by side in the bags.

[IMG]http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/scottdwh/102_0746.jpg[/IMG]

Here are the two next to each other. Kolorscape is on the left.

[IMG]http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/scottdwh/102_0747.jpg[/IMG]

Here is the Kolorscape solo. It is a very fine sand.

[IMG]http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/scottdwh/102_0752.jpg[/IMG]

This is the Carib Sea. A lot more grainy.

[IMG]http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/scottdwh/102_0753.jpg[/IMG]

It's not the same as southdown, It's not good for a DSB. I think old castle dont make southdown anymore, The Caribsea is a way better sand if youre going to do a DSB.