Possible cheaper alternative to aragonite???

[Neptune777]

Has anyone looked into using the dry reptisand or calci-sand products that are used for keeping lizards? It is pure crushed calcium carbonate....comes in many many colors too.

I believe I noticed this stuff at petco for like 17.99 for a 20lb bag...

Any thoughts?......Aragonite is just calcium caronate too I believe....

Caribsea even makes the stuff for reptiles.....wonder what else they use the stuff for ;)

http://cgi.ebay.com/CaribSea-Reptilite-Reptile-Sand-Natural-White-CS-720_W0QQitemZ140022270545QQihZ004QQcategoryZ3212QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[PrivateJoker64]

I am using it on my new 46b. Seems fine so far.

[Neptune777]

Bump.....


Anyone else look at these products?

[Chihuahua6]

Aragonite and calcium carbonate are not the same. Calcium carbonate will only buffer at a significantly low pH (forgot the number). If your tank were to get that low you would be in trouble anyway so buffering won't be of much help. While calcium carbonate can work well as a substrate it would not have the added benefit as a buffer the way aragonite would. I had just used some playsand from Lowes for asthetic reasons. My tank is too small to contain a functioning DSB so I decided on a shallow bed for looks. The stuff is so cheap I can vacuum it regularly and replace with fresh sand for pennies on the dollar. That being said I am going to splurge for some Caribsea from Foster and Smith because the playsand is a tan color and I prefer the white. They do not charge extra to ship the sand so it's not too costly if you have a small tank. $23 for 30 lbs of oolitic is cheaper than the reptile sand you mentioned. Here's the link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7321&N=2004+113554

[Neptune777]

All the searches I performed showed Aragonite is calcium carbonate.....see this site for more detailed info:

http://webmineral.com/data/Aragonite.shtml

What's the difference? They are both CaCO3....?

[PrivateJoker64]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8576778#post8576778 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chihuahua6
Aragonite and calcium carbonate are not the same. Calcium carbonate will only buffer at a significantly low pH (forgot the number). If your tank were to get that low you would be in trouble anyway so buffering won't be of much help. While calcium carbonate can work well as a substrate it would not have the added benefit as a buffer the way aragonite would. I had just used some playsand from Lowes for asthetic reasons. My tank is too small to contain a functioning DSB so I decided on a shallow bed for looks. The stuff is so cheap I can vacuum it regularly and replace with fresh sand for pennies on the dollar. That being said I am going to splurge for some Caribsea from Foster and Smith because the playsand is a tan color and I prefer the white. They do not charge extra to ship the sand so it's not too costly if you have a small tank. $23 for 30 lbs of oolitic is cheaper than the reptile sand you mentioned. Here's the link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7321&N=2004+113554

From what I have read, if you're pH is low enough for the aragonite to start to dissolve, you have far more serious problems anyway. I picked it up really cheap on eBay, much cheaper than I could get CaribSea.
BTW, here's what the label says:
"Reptilite's unusual, naturally spherical grains are freindly to scales, carapace, and digestive tract.
No artificial dyes or chemicals, Reptilite is 100% natural.
Reptilite is both silica and phosphate free.
Contains strontium, magnesium, and potassium."

Seemed better to use it than some sand from HD or Lowe's that I had no info on.