? Rinsing Dirty Live Sand safely ?

TotalKhaos · 01/30/2006, 11:16 AM

I am setting up a new tank. I have about 40 to 50 lbs of LS from an old tank that needs to be cleaned well before I mix it with my new sand.

I plan to rinse it until the water runs clear, or clear enough.

Question is, can I use tap water to rinse without compromising the sand or introducing too much tap water to my new tank? My Tap water has a TDS reading of about 175. My RO/DI water is precious to me and takes awhile to produce.

Any thoughts or ideas welcome and appreciated.

bertoni · 01/30/2006, 07:54 PM

I think rinsing with tapwater is likely okay, although it's not going to be live afterwards. You might also lose a lot of the finer particles, which might or might not matter to you.

mmgm · 01/30/2006, 08:10 PM

I would not recomend recycling sand or rinsing Live Sand for any reason when setting up a tank. When setting up a new tank I would use all new sand (Tropical Play Sand or Southdown) and seed with a few pounds of the Live Sand. Tropical Play Sand sells for about $5 for 50 pounds... The few pounds of Live Sand you use for seeding does not need to be cleaned....

You won't go wrong....

Have fun.....;

pro99line · 01/31/2006, 06:36 AM

When I got my tank the sand was alrwady in it for 3 years. I made sure after getting all the fish, corals, and rock out, I drained all but 2 inches of water and then mixed up the sand good to release all the methane gas and then discarded of the remaining water. I reused the sand and have been happy.

Palancar · 01/31/2006, 08:56 AM

I agree with mmgm. You may be fine, but why take the risk? New sand is cheap enough.

NCreefwannabe · 01/31/2006, 11:20 AM

Thats only if you can find it. Most people cant find the play sand much less get it for 5 bucks.

Bluemorningwind · 01/31/2006, 11:32 AM

Rinse the sand well and you won't have any problems. Just use tap water. The sand won't be live-sand after you rinse it, of course.

Normally, I use a large square tub and my backyard hose with a watering rose to rinse sand clean. The shallower the sand, the quicker/better the rinse.

TotalKhaos · 01/31/2006, 12:05 PM

well I think I figured out a good solution. I had about 10 gal of basically clean SW from a water change that I rinsed the sand with. Now My Sand is Nice and Clean!

I dont know of any place I could find sand that cheap. I just paid $45 bucks for new sand and didnt really want to have to buy more.

waste not, want not!

mmgm · 01/31/2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TotalKhaos
well I think I figured out a good solution. I had about 10 gal of basically clean SW from a water change that I rinsed the sand with. Now My Sand is Nice and Clean!

I dont know of any place I could find sand that cheap. I just paid $45 bucks for new sand and didnt really want to have to buy more.

waste not, want not!

I'm glad this worked out for you.... In case you ever want to purchase inexpensive sand in the future there are many threads on RC that identify where you can buy silica free sand for about $5 for 50 pounds. This stuff is identical to the sand you paid $45 from your LFS.... Here are some threads as a reference

Enjoy the clean sand.....

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ical+Play+Sand

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ical+Play+Sand

silica free sand

TotalKhaos · 02/01/2006, 05:27 PM

thanks!

01/30/2006, 11:16 AM	#1
TotalKhaos Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 939	? Rinsing Dirty Live Sand safely ? I am setting up a new tank. I have about 40 to 50 lbs of LS from an old tank that needs to be cleaned well before I mix it with my new sand. I plan to rinse it until the water runs clear, or clear enough. Question is, can I use tap water to rinse without compromising the sand or introducing too much tap water to my new tank? My Tap water has a TDS reading of about 175. My RO/DI water is precious to me and takes awhile to produce. Any thoughts or ideas welcome and appreciated. __________________ I know you think you know what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. Current Tank Info: 115g w/ 20g sump, 3x175w MH, UV, etc... empty atm

01/30/2006, 07:54 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I think rinsing with tapwater is likely okay, although it's not going to be live afterwards. You might also lose a lot of the finer particles, which might or might not matter to you. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/31/2006, 12:05 PM	#8
TotalKhaos Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 939	well I think I figured out a good solution. I had about 10 gal of basically clean SW from a water change that I rinsed the sand with. Now My Sand is Nice and Clean! I dont know of any place I could find sand that cheap. I just paid $45 bucks for new sand and didnt really want to have to buy more. waste not, want not! __________________ I know you think you know what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. Current Tank Info: 115g w/ 20g sump, 3x175w MH, UV, etc... empty atm

02/01/2006, 05:27 PM	#10
TotalKhaos Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 939	thanks! __________________ I know you think you know what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. Current Tank Info: 115g w/ 20g sump, 3x175w MH, UV, etc... empty atm

01/30/2006, 08:10 PM	#3
mmgm Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,032	I would not recomend recycling sand or rinsing Live Sand for any reason when setting up a tank. When setting up a new tank I would use all new sand (Tropical Play Sand or Southdown) and seed with a few pounds of the Live Sand. Tropical Play Sand sells for about $5 for 50 pounds... The few pounds of Live Sand you use for seeding does not need to be cleaned.... You won't go wrong.... Have fun.....;

01/31/2006, 06:36 AM	#4
pro99line Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Theodore, AL Posts: 280	When I got my tank the sand was alrwady in it for 3 years. I made sure after getting all the fish, corals, and rock out, I drained all but 2 inches of water and then mixed up the sand good to release all the methane gas and then discarded of the remaining water. I reused the sand and have been happy.

01/31/2006, 08:56 AM	#5
Palancar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bloomsbury, NJ Posts: 165	I agree with mmgm. You may be fine, but why take the risk? New sand is cheap enough.

01/31/2006, 11:20 AM	#6
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	Thats only if you can find it. Most people cant find the play sand much less get it for 5 bucks.

01/31/2006, 11:32 AM	#7
Bluemorningwind Moved On Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tokyo Posts: 441	Rinse the sand well and you won't have any problems. Just use tap water. The sand won't be live-sand after you rinse it, of course. Normally, I use a large square tub and my backyard hose with a watering rose to rinse sand clean. The shallower the sand, the quicker/better the rinse.