pulverized limestone sand

[Jose]

Anyone tried it? If so how much does it spike the ph? I just bought a bag today at HD. I need it to be under 7.8.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

7.8 is not gonna happen.  We have some of that same stuff from HD.  I put some in a cup of water to test the pH when we first got it, and it went up to 8.4 in just a few hours....it's potent stuff.  :)

[nacra99]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

Limestone is calcium carbonate. It buffers in the 8+ pH region. I wouldn't use it if you want the pH less than 7.8.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

Many people claim that Limestone Holey Rock wil buffer pH.  This is not true.

It takes something like your looking at with the crushed/pulverized limestone SAND to buffer pH.  I completely agree with Traci's findings that it is capable of putting your pH to 8.4. As long as it is pure limestone sand, then I would think 8.4 is about the maximum.

It is like adding baking soda, you can add baking soda till your aquarium turns to paste and the ph will not get above 8.2

If you need pH below 7.8, most locations in Houston tap source runs 7.8 to 7.6.  I have not seen it get higher than that.

If your worried about substrate and want a sand, but do not want buffering, get Pool Filter Sand from Leslie's for about $7 per 50lb bag.

[JStrider]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

[quote="geoff_tropheus";p="70888"]If you need pH below 7.8, most locations in Houston tap source runs 7.8 to 7.6.  I have not seen it get higher than that.[quote]

mine comes out of the Tap at 8.4ish 8O

[h0nkzz]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

Geoff,

Does this sand make good substrate for Trophs ?

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

If the buffering is that high, I am certain it would.

I just dont know how clean the pulverized sand is, and make sure its clean, and if pulverized limestone is the only ingrediant in the bag, I think it would make for a really great Tropheus substrate.

I wish the Deer Park/Pasadena area had pH that high, I would not have to buffer.  Maybee I should move there.. :?

[imagirlgeek]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

It's a very very very dusty sand.  Even after rinsing/cleaning it, the stuff leaves the water a milky color for days.  And every time you get into the tank to move rocks or clean or anything, it gets stirred up again.  

We've got it in a small tank and I dread messing with anything in there.  Maybe you'll have better luck.

[Zulaab]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

Geoff.. my water in Katy comes out at pH 8.2

[dblondfemme]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

<---has water that comes out at 8.0 from the nice little (unchlorinated) well.

[Jose]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

Thanks, I need to find a leslies. What color is the sand?

[dblondfemme]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

there is a leslie's on 1960 near Foodland or whatever that is.  It is one block west of Ella on 1960

[Jose]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

:|  to far for me. I found 1 right by my job.

EDIT: lol looks like I typed in the wrong face , sorry

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

Here is a store locator for Leslie's

http://leslies.know-where.com/leslies/

[JStrider]

Re: pulverized limestone sand

the pool filter sand I've gotten from them is a pretty uniform light tan color.

its by far my favorite substrate so far... cleans like gravel, looks like sand...