best way to clean dead sand

SAZAMA · 11/04/2009, 12:18 PM

whats the best way to clean dead sand and rock. without using rodi?

Michael · 11/04/2009, 01:10 PM

well theres no need to clean sand really, in saying that i do vaccuum mine occassionally with a siphon, and a turkey baster is a great bit of kit for keeping debris off live rock, this is if its in the tank, if its dry and out of the tank then the sand can be washed through in a bucket and the rock scrubbed.

bheron · 11/04/2009, 03:13 PM

1) Im not sure if there's a way to really clean sand 100%. I tried. Removed all sand from my tank and rinsed it over and over and over until the runoff water was pretty clean. sand looked pristine. put it back into a new tank and still had excess nutrient issues. Removed it all and am now bare bottom and no issues. Now, it could've been a number of things that caused excess nutrients, but I was pretty sure my sand was still dirty.

2) I just finished cleaning my rock - see this thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1587539

Aquarist007 · 11/04/2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bheron

1) Im not sure if there's a way to really clean sand 100%. I tried. Removed all sand from my tank and rinsed it over and over and over until the runoff water was pretty clean. sand looked pristine. put it back into a new tank and still had excess nutrient issues. Removed it all and am now bare bottom and no issues. Now, it could've been a number of things that caused excess nutrients, but I was pretty sure my sand was still dirty.

2) I just finished cleaning my rock - see this thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1587539

thanks for the link --alot of usefull information there.

SAZAMA · 11/04/2009, 05:50 PM

its dry. and came with my new tank. i dont want any pests or issues. so i think i'll put it in a bucket with WC water and some vinegar. to kill it. seed it and start fresh. i'm gonna use in the fuge for extra filtering. any advice?

bheron · 11/04/2009, 06:07 PM

yea, thats one thing I didnt do - a vinegar wash woulud def help. just make sure, before you put it in your tank, to put it in some tank water by iteself and see if it changes the PH and stuff.

VacavilleFC3S · 11/04/2009, 06:42 PM

rinsing calcium based sand with vinegar will cause it to bubble and melt won't it???

jenglish · 11/04/2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VacavilleFC3S

rinsing calcium based sand with vinegar will cause it to bubble and melt won't it???

yes. If there is not much vinegar it won't melt much, but that is the old way to test if sand is calcium based

Michael · 11/05/2009, 12:59 AM

just put it in a bucket and wash it through, and keep emptying the cloudy water, eventually the water will stay clear and the sand will be clean

PRDubois · 11/05/2009, 01:29 AM

1: Put sand in 5 gal bucket
2: Stick Garden hose in bucket
3: Stur sand with hand and push hose to bottom of bucket
4: Keep sturring with hand till water runs clear

A sea K · 11/05/2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRDubois

1: Put sand in 5 gal bucket
2: Stick Garden hose in bucket
3: Stur sand with hand and push hose to bottom of bucket
4: Keep sturring with hand till water runs clear

This is my preferred method also.

Toddrtrex · 11/05/2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael

just put it in a bucket and wash it through, and keep emptying the cloudy water, eventually the water will stay clear and the sand will be clean

SAZAMA · 11/05/2009, 12:30 PM

thanks everyone

Michael · 11/05/2009, 12:45 PM

thanks todd

great pics

seapug · 11/05/2009, 01:06 PM

well said, todd.

Toddrtrex · 11/05/2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael

thanks todd

great pics

Quote:

Originally Posted by seapug

well said, todd.

Thanks guys. For me, the less words I use the better

sharrison · 11/05/2009, 01:20 PM

either throw it away and get new or better yet go BB with starboard, it's a lot easier to maintain.

SAZAMA · 11/05/2009, 06:30 PM

what is" BB with starboard "

A sea K · 11/06/2009, 08:38 AM

BB- Bare Bottom, Starboard is a type of plastic some use to help distribute the LR weight on the bottom glass and prevent breakage, it also allows corraline a easy surface to adhear to and give a somewhat more natural appearance in a barebottom tank.

SAZAMA · 11/06/2009, 11:44 AM

BB is so ugly though

11/04/2009, 12:18 PM	#1
SAZAMA Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northglenn ,Colorado Posts: 639	best way to clean dead sand whats the best way to clean dead sand and rock. without using rodi? __________________ I enjoy long walks, next to my reef tank...LOVE 303 Current Tank Info: water box

11/04/2009, 01:10 PM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	well theres no need to clean sand really, in saying that i do vaccuum mine occassionally with a siphon, and a turkey baster is a great bit of kit for keeping debris off live rock, this is if its in the tank, if its dry and out of the tank then the sand can be washed through in a bucket and the rock scrubbed. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/04/2009, 03:13 PM	#3
bheron Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Valley Forge, PA Posts: 2,655	1) Im not sure if there's a way to really clean sand 100%. I tried. Removed all sand from my tank and rinsed it over and over and over until the runoff water was pretty clean. sand looked pristine. put it back into a new tank and still had excess nutrient issues. Removed it all and am now bare bottom and no issues. Now, it could've been a number of things that caused excess nutrients, but I was pretty sure my sand was still dirty. 2) I just finished cleaning my rock - see this thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1587539 __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 220 since Nov 2005

11/04/2009, 05:50 PM	#5
SAZAMA Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northglenn ,Colorado Posts: 639	its dry. and came with my new tank. i dont want any pests or issues. so i think i'll put it in a bucket with WC water and some vinegar. to kill it. seed it and start fresh. i'm gonna use in the fuge for extra filtering. any advice? __________________ I enjoy long walks, next to my reef tank...LOVE 303 Current Tank Info: water box

11/04/2009, 06:07 PM	#6
bheron Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Valley Forge, PA Posts: 2,655	yea, thats one thing I didnt do - a vinegar wash woulud def help. just make sure, before you put it in your tank, to put it in some tank water by iteself and see if it changes the PH and stuff. __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 220 since Nov 2005

11/04/2009, 06:42 PM	#7
VacavilleFC3S Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vacaville California Posts: 2,613	rinsing calcium based sand with vinegar will cause it to bubble and melt won't it???

11/05/2009, 12:59 AM	#9
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	just put it in a bucket and wash it through, and keep emptying the cloudy water, eventually the water will stay clear and the sand will be clean __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/05/2009, 01:29 AM	#10
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	1: Put sand in 5 gal bucket 2: Stick Garden hose in bucket 3: Stur sand with hand and push hose to bottom of bucket 4: Keep sturring with hand till water runs clear __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

11/05/2009, 12:30 PM	#13
SAZAMA Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northglenn ,Colorado Posts: 639	thanks everyone __________________ I enjoy long walks, next to my reef tank...LOVE 303 Current Tank Info: water box

11/05/2009, 12:45 PM	#14
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	thanks todd great pics __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/05/2009, 01:06 PM	#15
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	well said, todd.

11/05/2009, 01:20 PM	#17
sharrison *"Registered Member"* Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Waynesboro, TN Posts: 354	either throw it away and get new or better yet go BB with starboard, it's a lot easier to maintain.

11/05/2009, 06:30 PM	#18
SAZAMA Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northglenn ,Colorado Posts: 639	what is" BB with starboard " __________________ I enjoy long walks, next to my reef tank...LOVE 303 Current Tank Info: water box

11/06/2009, 08:38 AM	#19
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	BB- Bare Bottom, Starboard is a type of plastic some use to help distribute the LR weight on the bottom glass and prevent breakage, it also allows corraline a easy surface to adhear to and give a somewhat more natural appearance in a barebottom tank. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

11/06/2009, 11:44 AM	#20
SAZAMA Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northglenn ,Colorado Posts: 639	BB is so ugly though __________________ I enjoy long walks, next to my reef tank...LOVE 303 Current Tank Info: water box