Is this sand or gravel?

[siona]

My sister helpfully bought me this thinking it was sand, but it looks a bit big...what do people think? I can just imagine my axies taking in great mouthfuls of it and that doesnt sound too good. It's silica sand, so that's something. Advice would be appreciated!

 

[Shizeric]

It's small enough to classify as sand..but it looks like some of the pieces might be really sharp. Do the pieces have sharp edges or does it just appear that way in the pictures?

 

[siona]

well it's quite sharp I suppose. I'm smooshing it in my palm and it doesn't hurt or anything, but I guess it might in an axie's stomach...it's so annoying because i can't seem to find actual black sand anywhere!

 

[Shizeric]

have you searched online for "tahitian moon sand" by caribsea?

 

[siona]

yeah I have looked online. But there's no way I'd get any deliveries before christmas. I've got the receipt for this (my sis bought 2 bags, but I've opened one) so I can return it at least...

 

[blackdog]

Caribsea=

 

[AuraCantos]

I agree on getting the CaribSea black "Tahitan Moon" sand. I use it personally in my axie tank, mixed with a smaller bag of the white, and it looks awesome. It's not super-super fine to the point where you'll suck it up when cleaning, but it's also not thick enough where it'll hurt your axies. Plus, it doesn't clump as much as other sand when you first wash it, and the bag comes with a little baggie of water clarifier that helps clear your water after you put the sand in.

 

[siona]

Could anyone maybe post an image of caribsea sand in their hand like my photo up there? The problem I'm having is that all the photos I can find of caribsea online give no indication of scale and it all looks suspiciously like the stuff I already have... with that shiny glittery look and sharp looking edges...

 

[AuraCantos]

Once I get home, Siona, I'll do just that for you. I don't have any dry, but I can smoosh it out and show you what it looks like wet. I might be able to stick it in front of a heater/fan and dry it out quickly. But I'll definitely post a pic for you.

 

[siona]

Thanks very much AuraCantos!

 

[AuraCantos]

Here are some pics. As you can see, the sand isn't super fine, but it isn't anywhere NEAR as big and sharp as the silica sand. My axies have no problems spitting this stuff back out after they gulp up a worm, lol.
The sand isn't "shiny", either. It just looks a bit glittery because it was still slightly damp and under my kitchen light. Haha.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/AuraCantos/P1060047.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/AuraCantos/P1060048.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/AuraCantos/P1060049.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/AuraCantos/P1060050.jpg

 

[Shizeric]

Comparing the 2 up-close shots, it seems Auro's sand is much finer/smoother looking than yours siona's. Nothing pops out as particularly sharp or dangerous.

 

[siona]

you're right, that makes it a lot clearer. I'm taking that sand back to the pet shop tonight and I'll see if they have anything appropriate - if not then I have the address of a local caribsea retailer! Woo! I'll be redecorating the tank this weekend one way or another!

 

[AuraCantos]

Make sure you take lots and lots of pics for us. ^_^ I love to see other people's tanks.

 

[siona]

Bought sand! They didn't have enough black bags so I mixed it with blue Had to rinse it for ages to stop it staining the water though! The axles seem to like it - Tallulah had curled gills yesterday because of the change but she seems back to normal now. And Gunther seems happy too. It's made it SO much easier to clean! and it does look amazing :lol:

 

[AuraCantos]

Oh wow, looks really nice, Siona! Makes your plants and axie pop out, too!

 

[mekkha]

That looks so pretty!