Need a chemist or science person's help on a projecct

[BucEyedPea]

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.

[kccrow]

Have you tried some Flocculant from a pool supply store?

[Chief_For_Life58]

hmmm yes I would venture to say Silicon dioxide + Trimethylhydroxysilane might solve your quandry good sir

[TribalElder]

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Have you tried some Flocculant from a pool supply store?

Gee, I have a pool and never heard of that. Although, someone handles it for me. So I had to look it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uuQ77vAV_U

Interesting, but it does say additional skimming and filtration are necessary. Sounds complicated but mine isn't really dirty like that example either--just cloudy. Not excessively cloudy, but not clear either. Not enough to look good. Funny thing is, when I look down into the bowl, instead of a side view, it does look clear.

Thanks. I'll check into that too.

[Chief_For_Life58]

but seriously now thinking about it I dunno if hydrophobic sand would work. Im sure aquarium stores sell clean sand that settles to the bottom really quickly

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

hmmm yes I would venture to say Silicon dioxide + Trimethylhydroxysilane might solve your quandry good sir

Well, what the heck is that, especially the second long word?

How do I use it and where do I get it?

Is it expensive?

[Chief_For_Life58]

the cloudiness is from your sand being dirty yo

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

but seriously now thinking about it I dunno if hydrophobic sand would work. Im sure aquarium stores sell clean sand that settles to the bottom really quickly

I looked at aquarium sand products and called Pet Smart who carries a sand. There's different kinds apparently. I watched You Tubes on some aquarium sand products but need to call the makers.

One wedding blog, discussed this, and a person mentioned a sand they had that is epoxy coated that doesn't cloud up. I plan to check it out but don't know what it looks like.

[cdcox]

You need to backwash the sand. To do this, put the sand in a tall container, filling it only 1/3 full. You need to introduce the washing water below the sand. You could use a tube or hose connected to the faucet and poke the other end below the sand as deep as you can get it. Turn on the water at a fast enough rate to make the sand boil, but not so fast that the sand goes over the edge of the vessel. Allow the wash water to overflow the vessel. The fines will be washed from the sand leaving clean sand behind.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

the cloudiness is from your sand being dirty yo

I know that's a factor but have followed instructions to clean it. That's what people do with aquarium sand so it's clear. However, none of the web pages with those examples did that.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Well, what the heck is that, especially the second long word?

How do I use it and where do I get it?

Is it expensive?

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

[Chief_For_Life58]

Originally Posted by cdcox

You need to backwash the sand. To do this, put the sand in a tall container, filling it only 1/3 full. You need to introduce the washing water below the sand. You could use a tube or hose connected to the faucet and poke the other end below the sand as deep as you can get it. Turn on the water at a fast enough rate to make the sand boil, but not so fast that the sand goes over the edge of the vessel. Allow the wash water to overflow the vessel. The fines will be washed from the sand leaving clean sand behind.

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

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by cdcox

You need to backwash the sand. To do this, put the sand in a tall container, filling it only 1/3 full. You need to introduce the washing water below the sand. You could use a tube or hose connected to the faucet and poke the other end below the sand as deep as you can get it. Turn on the water at a fast enough rate to make the sand boil, but not so fast that the sand goes over the edge of the vessel. Allow the wash water to overflow the vessel. The fines will be washed from the sand leaving clean sand behind.

Okay. Would my spray nozzle next to my kitchen faucet do that?

I'm a little leery of any sand getting into my sink but I could use the side without the disposal.

Would the water from an outside hose be okay?

[cdcox]

Yes, I would do it outside.