buroak
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2019
Posts: 9
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Post by buroak on Oct 20, 2020 15:31:00 GMT -5
I have an odd question. Would tumbling fine sand (mainly siliceous with hardness from 6.0 - 8.0 & mesh size 30 or finer) help round the grains or is there not enough weight to get the job done? Would be using 12 lb Lortone tubs. I could throw in some small Sioux Quartzite tumbling cubes if that would speed things up and not be too destructive. I have access to a type of sand I would like to use for my aquariums, but the grains are subacute and a bit too sharp for my sand filtering fish. Thanks!
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bdport67
off to a rocking start
Are you licking that?!
Member since September 2020
Posts: 18
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Post by bdport67 on Oct 20, 2020 15:46:20 GMT -5
Maybe?...but would you trust it with your fish? How much would you have to inspect with a magnifier to be sure? Is it ok if it 90% works?...60%?...How bad would it harm the fish?
I'd just buy the correct type of substrate and not risk it.
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buroak
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2019
Posts: 9
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Post by buroak on Oct 20, 2020 15:56:09 GMT -5
There is no "correct" substrate. Way too fine to normally be used in aquariums. Other available sands that "may" have smoother grains are not the color I am looking for. To put this in perspective, the grain size I would like is half that of pool filter sand or less. Think a third of a millimeter give or take. Some play sands meet the size and shape but have a wider range of grain size than I would like and the wrong color, and often contain unknown aggregate types.
edited: Sorry, I didn't answer your question. The sand is most likely safe for the fish in its original state, I would just like to round it off a bit more just to be safe. It is about the size of extra rough tumbling grit.
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EricD
Cave Dweller
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
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Post by EricD on Oct 21, 2020 7:58:39 GMT -5
Yes, any movement between the grains of sand will round their sharp edges, and if you are able to add a large stone, that will decrease the time it takes to round them to your liking. It may take a couple of weeks or more to achieve what you are trying to do, but it can be done.
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buroak
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2019
Posts: 9
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Post by buroak on Oct 22, 2020 14:22:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.
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