[psychofish]

I am thinking about putting white silica sand in with my

cichlids because my blue fish are black because of the black rocks.

I have heard that silica sand is bad for fish and I was just wondering

if it is true or not.

 

[Atlanta Braves Baby!]

What type of bad things have you heard? I had heard that it wasnt and have some here ready to go into one of my tanks someday.

 

[psychofish]

I dont believe most of it thats why I asked here,

but I was told that it raises ph through the roof

and that it may give my fish " cancer"

I was told cancer but I dont think so

 

[Atlanta Braves Baby!]

I dont believe most of it thats why I asked here,

but I was told that it raises ph through the roof

and that it may give my fish " cancer"

I was told cancer but I dont think so

[snapback]855145[/snapback]​

Hmm interesting. Hopefully someone will enlighten us on this then.

I sure hope its ok since I have (2) 50 pound bags of it.

 

[ty]

i'm not sure about the fish but i know silica gives humans silicosis.
Silicosis eventually fills you lungs until you can no longer breathe

 

[acidWarp]

I've also heard conflicting opinions...
Personally I use Quickcrete playsand in my tanks and it says right on the package it contains silicates. My pH has never gone way through the roof (actually right now I'm battling low pH as a result of soft water) and none of my fish have shown any problems and have been growing well.

 

[flyboy]

i heard that your not supposed to use it because diatoms use silica to build their outershell. so you will get a lot of them. but i think this is only for salt. best just to go with some play sand.

 

[psychofish]

Play sand isnt white

 

[Fresh2salt]

i use southdown play sand from homedepot. never had a problem

 

[jonscilz]

its safe...