pool filter sand for substrate?

[icecoaler]

hi- im new and plan on setting up a 5.5 gallon tank shortly. my ? is rather simple and encased in the title of this thread. so, is it feasible or a bad idea? the only reason to the contrary i can think of is that the sand may have organics and other materials in it making it unsuitable. i ask cause i have alot of it in the house from my yellow lab setup...

[Brian Crook]

At first glance, I would have to say unsuitable. Perhaps if you found out what this sand actually consisted of, researched that information, and then thoroughly cleaned the sand. But you're still better off using live sand or something more regular.

[scarfish]

If I can remember correctly the sand we used for our pool filter about 10 years ago looked very yellow/browinsh industrial sand like for sand boxes or like the sand from the jersey shore not a tropical ocean bottom. If it was in a tank an old rusted tin can would look more natural and in place then coral. IMO

[Mr. Fosi]

IIRC, the sand used in pool filters is just silica sand.

 

Some people have used this sand in remote DSBs but most people stay away from it for three reasons: 1) it may contribute to diatom problems, 2) it provides no buffering capacity and 3) it is ugly.

[reefone]

#4- its small grain size will cause it to be blown around very easy.

[holdorf333]

#4- its small grain size will cause it to be blown around very easy.

I use it in a FW tank, and it's pretty big. Well, between CC and sugar sand. 3-5mm or so??

 

Edit: clarification