Suggestions on how to clean debris from sand

My-eel-bit-me · 10/01/2009, 09:42 PM

I just bought 45 lbs of live sand for my refugium. The sand it self is just what I wanted very fine. However there is a big problem. All through the sand was bunches of pieces of little wood debris. I am super ****ed with the supplier right now, but need to get it cleaned fast. I just started my refugium and switched to an in sump skimmer. That means I got no skimmer on my display as the refugium cycles and need to get this fixed as fast as possible. So my choices are to scrap the whole 45lbs of sand or find a way to clean the debris. Ideas?

sohal1025 · 10/01/2009, 09:57 PM

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My-eel-bit-me · 10/01/2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sohal1025

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Thanks for the input......

joeyg4583 · 10/01/2009, 10:53 PM

maybe run an aquarium net through it to basically sift out the large chnks?

My-eel-bit-me · 10/01/2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyg4583

maybe run an aquarium net through it to basically sift out the large chnks?

Yea, that is the first thing I attempted. It worked to an extent, but would take way to long to go through 45 lbs. I am thinking going out any buying a silk screen. My concern is that I will not be able to get all the smallest of the wood debris out. I want to know if it will negatively affect the tank? Odds are I'm going to just dump it and demand a new shipment of sand.

NaH2Ofreak · 10/02/2009, 12:19 AM

submerge the sand in a bucket of water, the pieces of wood and debris will float to the top. Skim it off.

Dennis

lordofthereef · 10/02/2009, 12:25 AM

$5 pounds shouldn;t take THAT long to sift. How tiny are the particles? Just get a cheapo food grade sifter. I bet you could sift it all in 5-10 minutes. If it isn;t worth your time, well, there is no miracle method I can think of. Just get id of it.

My-eel-bit-me · 10/02/2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

$5 pounds shouldn;t take THAT long to sift. How tiny are the particles? Just get a cheapo food grade sifter. I bet you could sift it all in 5-10 minutes. If it isn;t worth your time, well, there is no miracle method I can think of. Just get id of it.

I was refering to joey suggesting sifting it with a fish net. The fish net method would take to long. I agree that a food grade sifter should do that trick. Thanks.

rhinonm · 10/02/2009, 12:59 PM

Do the water method or just get a large spagetti strainer. Unfortunately I don't thin k there is a quick fix-

mal1099 · 10/02/2009, 10:38 PM

Just wondering would the WOOD be an issue? Is it alot of wood?

lordofthereef · 10/03/2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My-eel-bit-me

I was refering to joey suggesting sifting it with a fish net. The fish net method would take to long. I agree that a food grade sifter should do that trick. Thanks.

No problem. yeah sifting with fishnet would make me shoot myself. Is the sand even small enough to go through that?

Raggamuffin · 10/03/2009, 12:34 AM

My mom had an old stainless steel sifter anything much bigger then a grain of sand would have no chance at making it through ...so I stole it

my suggestion is hit up a kitchen supply store and see if you can find on I know they still make them.

10/01/2009, 09:42 PM	#1
My-eel-bit-me Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 67	Suggestions on how to clean debris from sand I just bought 45 lbs of live sand for my refugium. The sand it self is just what I wanted very fine. However there is a big problem. All through the sand was bunches of pieces of little wood debris. I am super ****ed with the supplier right now, but need to get it cleaned fast. I just started my refugium and switched to an in sump skimmer. That means I got no skimmer on my display as the refugium cycles and need to get this fixed as fast as possible. So my choices are to scrap the whole 45lbs of sand or find a way to clean the debris. Ideas?

10/01/2009, 09:57 PM	#2
sohal1025 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Elyria Ohio Posts: 1,737	... __________________ THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank, Reef Radiance led lighting,20gal long sump,SuperReefOctopus,phosban reactor

10/01/2009, 10:53 PM	#4
joeyg4583 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brighton, Colorado Posts: 234	maybe run an aquarium net through it to basically sift out the large chnks?

10/02/2009, 12:19 AM	#6
NaH2Ofreak Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,468	submerge the sand in a bucket of water, the pieces of wood and debris will float to the top. Skim it off. Dennis

10/02/2009, 12:25 AM	#7
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	$5 pounds shouldn;t take THAT long to sift. How tiny are the particles? Just get a cheapo food grade sifter. I bet you could sift it all in 5-10 minutes. If it isn;t worth your time, well, there is no miracle method I can think of. Just get id of it.

10/02/2009, 12:59 PM	#9
rhinonm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Rio Rancho NM USA Posts: 302	Do the water method or just get a large spagetti strainer. Unfortunately I don't thin k there is a quick fix-

10/02/2009, 10:38 PM	#10
mal1099 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Everett Wa Posts: 244	Just wondering would the WOOD be an issue? Is it alot of wood?

10/03/2009, 12:34 AM	#12
Raggamuffin Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brandon SD. Posts: 541	My mom had an old stainless steel sifter anything much bigger then a grain of sand would have no chance at making it through ...so I stole it my suggestion is hit up a kitchen supply store and see if you can find on I know they still make them.