[alphabravo22]

Hey guys, just a quick question regarding silica sand substrate. I'm thinking of changing the substrate in my african tank to silica sand. My question is; is the sand sold in an aquarium store the same as the sand bought from a hardware store? At the hardware store I can get basically double the amount for half the price. Is the sand any different? or should I just take it safe and buy an aquarium specific substrate? Please let me know what you think, or if you've done it how it turned out.

Thanks

 

[Joea]

Sand is sand and almost all of it is silica based. The differences are in grit, colour and cleanliness. Price is another difference and the mark-up at LFS for some sort of non-existent "piece of mind" is unfounded.

Buy the cheap sand at the hardware store.