Sand Question

[BlackCamaroSS99]

Can I just use the 50lb bags that you can get for 3$ at home depot as long as its non toxic or is that a no no? I'd have to wash it really good to make sure it didn't make a murkey mess for a few days also right?

I have african rift lake substrate now and I want to switch to sand....

[jonah]

You can use the playsand at HD, but it gets packed down pretty hard and is super cloudy for awhile. I've got some in a couple of tanks now. I also have a big patch that turned into cement on the bottom of my 29g.

I'd get pool filter sand instead. It's got larger grains, doesn't cloud as much and it hasn't compacted in my tanks. I didn't wash it at all when I set up a 75g and it was cleared up within 2 days. It is a little more expensive than playsand, but still much cheaper than anything they sell at the lfs. I think I paid about $7 per bag.