Home and Auto Need a chemist or science person's help on a projecct - Page 2

BucEyedPea · 07-02-2014, 06:22 PM

Okay, this seems gay for a male dominated sports forum but I know there's science people here. So what the hell!

My daughter has a roomate, who is still a student, getting married this August. She loved my seashell tall cylinder vases and asked if I would design her wedding centerpieces like that. She's having a beach-themed wedding.

I can can come up with an idea, sketch it out well and quickly enough...but what if it won't work in the real world? That's where I am having a problem. I don't normally do this kind of project but she's low on funds. So I thought I'd help her out. I am off work for June and most of July.

She wants her sea shells under water, with those floating candles on top. It's a great idea and I've seen them. However, I have taken three of my glass bowls and tested nice white beach sand from my beach here and two kinds of decor sand from the craft store which is made from crushed rocks--one like coast sand with specks in it and the other deeper.

You see these things all over the net BUT the water is clear-- mine is cloudy though.

Now the cloudiness settles and it looks better after a day...but it's still not clear enough to look good. I just did a second rinse to see, after watching a You Tube video on cleaning aquarium sand so that wouldn't look cloudy.

I have researched some aquarium sand/items and but haven't completed it. So is there anything about any other substrate or type of water where it will remain clear? Anything about the chemistry of the water that would help? We have hard water here but I have a water softener which also cleans it too. It's just not reverse osmosis though.
I have some distilled water too.

Funny thing is the beach sand I used remains the clearest. I have some pictures below to show you what I am trying to do. If someone else has done it, then it can be done. There just has to be some missing technology that I don't know to pull it off. S

Some of the pages for these photos make it sound so easy....just fill with water. Voilà! It's done!

Here's samples of what I am doing. Only I am using a 12 inch bubble vase which is round like a half of balloon.

This one doesn't have sand at the bottom. I guess I could skip the sand altogether but it doesn't look as nice and the girl liked the sand.

BucEyedPea · 07-02-2014, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

http://www.amazon.com/Educational-In.../dp/B009P8ARHY

Well, I want a natural look -- not colored sand. It's interesting though that it remains dry. Also, it's a bit pricey for one pound. I need minimum 2 lbs per bubble bowl possibly more and per table.

BucEyedPea · 07-02-2014, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

Yes, I would do it outside.

So is hose water clean enough to clean the sand?

**Baby Lee** · 07-02-2014, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Well, I want a natural look -- not colored sand. It's interesting though that it remains dry. Also, it's a bit pricey for one pound. I need minimum 2 lbs per bubble bowl possibly more and per table.

I was simply showing you what he was talking about.

A Salt Weapon · 07-02-2014, 06:57 PM

Use vodka instead of water, or 151 that would be exciting.

BucEyedPea · 07-02-2014, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

or you can go to your local hardware store and for 3 dollars buy a 50 pound bag of quikrete play sand

Hmm...that's another idea. Plus it's cheap enough for me to test. The real sand from my beach actually looks the best so far...even better than expensive decor sand.

**cdcox** · 07-02-2014, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

So is hose water clean enough to clean the sand?

Yes.

BucEyedPea · 07-02-2014, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Use vodka instead of water, or 151 that would be exciting.

Ha! Ha! Too expensive tho'!

Deberg_1990 · 07-02-2014, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

My daughter has a roomate, who is still a student, getting married this August. She loved my seashell tall cylinder vases and asked if I would design her wedding centerpieces like that. She's having a beach-themed wedding.

Just tell her *uck it, cant be done.

BucEyedPea · 07-02-2014, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I was simply showing you what he was talking about.

Oh! Oops!

BucEyedPea · 07-02-2014, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Just tell her *uck it, cant be done.

I was just thinking I could tell her," no water; just sand. That beggars can't be choosey. That would be mean tho.'

Now that I'm into it, I'd like to make it work. Then I can use the idea for myself too. They look beautiful.

**Rain Man** · 07-03-2014, 12:11 AM

Can you not just put it in a cheesecloth or some kind of fine filter and run water through it? The really fine stuff would flow through and leave you with the easily settled stuff.

At least, that's my theory.

cosmo20002 · 07-03-2014, 12:35 AM

Ethylene glycol

listopencil · 07-03-2014, 01:11 AM

Pour in the sand and arrange it exactly how you want it. Apply a light coat of a clear sealant. Wait for the sealant to dry. Add water, shells and candles. You may want to add some shells to the sand before you seal it up to make the sealant/water layer less noticeable.

Silock · 07-03-2014, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Hmm...that's another idea. Plus it's cheap enough for me to test. The real sand from my beach actually looks the best so far...even better than expensive decor sand.

I would NOT recommend play sand. It's super fine, so any slight disturbance and it will kick up and cloud the water for a while.

You want something with a bigger grain. I recommend pool filter sand.

This is how you wash it:

Hog's Gone Fishin · 07-03-2014, 02:44 AM

Do you not have a washing machine ? Simple solution would be to dump all your sand into your washer. I'd set it on heavy duty. When its done just scoop it out and into the dryer it goes.

You can thank me later.

07-02-2014, 06:22 PM
BucEyedPea Gimme My Berries Back! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: None of your business Casino cash: $3489963	Need a chemist or science person's help on a projecct Okay, this seems gay for a male dominated sports forum but I know there's science people here. So what the hell! My daughter has a roomate, who is still a student, getting married this August. She loved my seashell tall cylinder vases and asked if I would design her wedding centerpieces like that. She's having a beach-themed wedding. I can can come up with an idea, sketch it out well and quickly enough...but what if it won't work in the real world? That's where I am having a problem. I don't normally do this kind of project but she's low on funds. So I thought I'd help her out. I am off work for June and most of July. She wants her sea shells under water, with those floating candles on top. It's a great idea and I've seen them. However, I have taken three of my glass bowls and tested nice white beach sand from my beach here and two kinds of decor sand from the craft store which is made from crushed rocks--one like coast sand with specks in it and the other deeper. You see these things all over the net BUT the water is clear-- mine is cloudy though. Now the cloudiness settles and it looks better after a day...but it's still not clear enough to look good. I just did a second rinse to see, after watching a You Tube video on cleaning aquarium sand so that wouldn't look cloudy. I have researched some aquarium sand/items and but haven't completed it. So is there anything about any other substrate or type of water where it will remain clear? Anything about the chemistry of the water that would help? We have hard water here but I have a water softener which also cleans it too. It's just not reverse osmosis though. I have some distilled water too. Funny thing is the beach sand I used remains the clearest. I have some pictures below to show you what I am trying to do. If someone else has done it, then it can be done. There just has to be some missing technology that I don't know to pull it off. S Some of the pages for these photos make it sound so easy....just fill with water. Voilà! It's done! Here's samples of what I am doing. Only I am using a 12 inch bubble vase which is round like a half of balloon. This one doesn't have sand at the bottom. I guess I could skip the sand altogether but it doesn't look as nice and the girl liked the sand.
Posts: 161,798

07-02-2014, 06:57 PM	#19
A Salt Weapon Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Alaska Casino cash: $2783539	Use vodka instead of water, or 151 that would be exciting. __________________ If two wrongs don't make a right, try three.
Posts: 1

07-03-2014, 12:11 AM	#26
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3338491 VARSITY	Can you not just put it in a cheesecloth or some kind of fine filter and run water through it? The really fine stuff would flow through and leave you with the easily settled stuff. At least, that's my theory. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,391

07-03-2014, 12:35 AM	#27
cosmo20002 Debunking your bullshit Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: KC area Casino cash: $5210315	Ethylene glycol
Posts: 52,592

07-03-2014, 01:11 AM	#28
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $2245880	Pour in the sand and arrange it exactly how you want it. Apply a light coat of a clear sealant. Wait for the sealant to dry. Add water, shells and candles. You may want to add some shells to the sand before you seal it up to make the sealant/water layer less noticeable. __________________ Good friends we have had, oh, good friends we've lost...along the way. In this great future, you can't forget your past. So dry your tears, I say.
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07-03-2014, 02:44 AM	#30
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1720477	Do you not have a washing machine ? Simple solution would be to dump all your sand into your washer. I'd set it on heavy duty. When its done just scoop it out and into the dryer it goes. You can thank me later.
Posts: 40,342