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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Argos Play Sand ok to use in tank?

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30 Dec 2008 22:41 #1 by doreilly (Donal O Reilly)
Hi All,

Argos sell 15kg bags for €3.99. Once washed thoroughly is it ok to use in aquariums?

Would a 15kg bag be enough for a 60 litre tank or would I need a second one?

I currently have regular gravel in there. Could I do it half and half? Is there any danger in swapping it out as I don't want losing any fish.

When I syphon the tank will it not remove the sand?

Cheers :)

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31 Dec 2008 00:56 #2 by JohnH (John)
At the top right hand side of the page there is a 'Search' facility. If you type 'Play Sand' into it there are loads of references to it, you should find the answers to all your questions there.
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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31 Dec 2008 10:04 #3 by Peter OB (Peter O'Brien)
The playsand is fine for aquarium use. That size bag would probably cover a 1000ltr tank!!

Make sure you wash it thoroughly in a bucket. You will be amazed the amount of scum/dirt that comes out of it. Wash it bit by bit until the water runs clear in the bucket.

It will cloud for maybe a day but should settle after that.

Smoke me a Kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast.

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31 Dec 2008 11:19 #4 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Hi,
I took alot of pics before when I was setting up a tank of mine in the hope of doing a thread (indeed I may get round to putting it together in 2009). Anyhow here are a few pics that may help you out.



First wash. Dirty water.


Second wash,its improving.


Third wash and its clean.


Place a saucer on top of the sand when you are pouring the water in.



Hope these pics help you out.
Gavin

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31 Dec 2008 11:42 #5 by gerryberry (Jeff Daly)
Hi Doreilly

How dark is the sand from Argos?, changing my own tank over to sand in the new year. I priced it in a fish suppliers and it is 10euros for a 5kg bag.Thinking of a mimimum of 3 bags have a 240 litre tank

I am looking for a very light coloured sand, thinking a creamy nearly white sand rather than a dark sand, hope the description makes sense:P :P

cheers

GB

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31 Dec 2008 12:01 #6 by doreilly (Donal O Reilly)
Hi,

Gavin - thanks for the info and pics :)
Your tank looks impressive.

Gerryberry - I'm not sure of the exact colour. For €3.99 it's worth a chance! I believe Woody's DIY also do some play sand that is ok to use in an aquarium. Might be worth checking them out also if you are not happy with the sand in Argos. Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Donal

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31 Dec 2008 12:08 #7 by gerryberry (Jeff Daly)
Cheers Donal, will do a bit of digging about, not to concerned about the cost , just want to get it right so i am happy with the final result.

Thanks again

GB

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31 Dec 2008 20:19 #8 by fourmations (NIall SMyth)
hi guys

i have used argos play sand

it is very bright and very fine,
a problem if you have an inlet deep in the tank (i didnt at the time)

i had problems with sucking it up
when siphoning but you may get used to it

by its nature, it shows off any
dirt and poos etc,

i changed it out as i got tired
of topping it up and stirring it up
to stop it going anerobic
(a pain if you have rocks or roots)
and the rate my otos poo made it look awful

i have never seen it but i belive
westland brand playsand is coarser

rgds

4

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