How to clean sand ???

Curtis1 · 04/15/2009, 09:14 AM

Hello, I just bought a set-up and tore it down. The sand smelled like sewer. How's the best way to clean it ????

stingythingy45 · 04/15/2009, 09:20 AM

Well,lots of folks in the hobby replace the sand after a move.
But that can be quite expensive with a 180 gallon tank.
I would just keep rinsing it out and soaking it with ro water and then spread it out on a tarp and let it dry in the sun.

patsfan1130 · 04/15/2009, 09:28 AM

Personally. I would not use it. start with new sand and use a cup "mature" sand from a reputable LFS or fellow reefer to seed it. This will take any guesswork out of potential problems down the road.

My 2 cents

mille239 · 04/15/2009, 10:15 AM

Marc (Melev) has a great walkthrough on his site:

http://www.melevsreef.com/rinsing_sand.html

saltydude · 04/15/2009, 11:27 AM

Go barebottom

reefscape15 · 04/15/2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saltydude
Go barebottom

More like Blah-bottom

Just kidding, but i really prefer the look or sand in a tank.

Sisterlimonpot · 04/15/2009, 07:44 PM

rinse it in a bucket and reuse it.

luther1200 · 04/15/2009, 08:05 PM

I would say it depends on just how bad it is. If its got black clumps and stuff like that. I wouldn't use it if it were me.

saltydude · 04/15/2009, 08:50 PM

I like sand as well, but I had to many problems with it. It is now being covered with star polyps so it is a shag carpet of sorts. Going retro

mille239 · 04/16/2009, 10:03 AM

If it's really bad (black clumps, etc...) just soak it in some bleach water for a spell, then follow the rinse/bucket method, spread it out to dry, and you should be as good as new sand.

Curtis1 · 04/16/2009, 06:41 PM

Thanks everyone. There were no black clumps or anything that bad. The walkthru at Melevs, was pretty much what I was going to try to do. I have also been thinking of going BB, but like the look of the sand better, and just hated to throw it away.

tkeracer619 · 04/16/2009, 06:44 PM

I run it through a plastic spaghetti strainer to pull out all the crushed coral, shells, bark, ect. Then put it into a container with some bleach water and let it soak for a day. Remove, rinse, and dry out. Sand is better then new.

04/15/2009, 09:14 AM	#1
Curtis1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Greenup, Ky. Posts: 507	How to clean sand ??? Hello, I just bought a set-up and tore it down. The sand smelled like sewer. How's the best way to clean it ????

04/15/2009, 09:20 AM	#2
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Well,lots of folks in the hobby replace the sand after a move. But that can be quite expensive with a 180 gallon tank. I would just keep rinsing it out and soaking it with ro water and then spread it out on a tarp and let it dry in the sun. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

04/15/2009, 09:28 AM	#3
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	Personally. I would not use it. start with new sand and use a cup "mature" sand from a reputable LFS or fellow reefer to seed it. This will take any guesswork out of potential problems down the road. My 2 cents __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

04/15/2009, 10:15 AM	#4
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Marc (Melev) has a great walkthrough on his site: http://www.melevsreef.com/rinsing_sand.html __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/15/2009, 07:44 PM	#7
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	rinse it in a bucket and reuse it. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

04/15/2009, 11:27 AM	#5
saltydude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 312	Go barebottom

04/15/2009, 08:05 PM	#8
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I would say it depends on just how bad it is. If its got black clumps and stuff like that. I wouldn't use it if it were me. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

04/15/2009, 08:50 PM	#9
saltydude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 312	I like sand as well, but I had to many problems with it. It is now being covered with star polyps so it is a shag carpet of sorts. Going retro

04/16/2009, 10:03 AM	#10
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	If it's really bad (black clumps, etc...) just soak it in some bleach water for a spell, then follow the rinse/bucket method, spread it out to dry, and you should be as good as new sand. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/16/2009, 06:41 PM	#11
Curtis1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Greenup, Ky. Posts: 507	Thanks everyone. There were no black clumps or anything that bad. The walkthru at Melevs, was pretty much what I was going to try to do. I have also been thinking of going BB, but like the look of the sand better, and just hated to throw it away.

04/16/2009, 06:44 PM	#12
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I run it through a plastic spaghetti strainer to pull out all the crushed coral, shells, bark, ect. Then put it into a container with some bleach water and let it soak for a day. Remove, rinse, and dry out. Sand is better then new. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.