sand from ocean

gotbags-10 · 03/13/2007, 10:20 AM

so i know you can take limited amounts of corals with a license but what about sand? Would it be even worth to use in a reef aquarium and what would be the place to get it from, like how far out in the ocean and ways to transport it back. Anyone ever done this?

alan214 · 03/13/2007, 10:28 AM

I think it would depend on where you collected it. Most the beach areas that people have general access to are too polluted to use sand from there. Others on RC may have more experience in ths area but I thought I once saw an article on here that basically advised against it.

jimwat · 03/13/2007, 10:37 AM

You have to be careful with adding ANY "unknowns" to a closed environment. Sand from the ocean may work fine, but I doubt that there is any advantage over purchased sand that would offset the risk of inadvertently adding something harmful to your tank IMO.

savethereef · 03/13/2007, 10:56 AM

i thought about the same thing the other day when i was at hermosa beach here in california the sand looked so nice and coarse but was not like my white sand i have at home

michaeldaly · 03/13/2007, 11:18 AM

I have used sea sand in my reef tank, it worked fine. I collected it in a clean area and rinsed it well before I used it though.

I doubt taking a bucket of sand is going to get you in very much trouble.

Aquabucket · 03/13/2007, 11:29 AM

As a former collector in FL. I can tell you that acquiring your own sand can be fun and rewarding. Just use common sense, collect from areas that have an abundant population of marine life, and don't break any laws. In FL. animals like pistol shrimp, small snails, and seahares, can easily be found right off shore along sandy bottoms. As far as it being a risk it is no more different than adding live rock such as Gulf rock and others that are collected and shipped in water. In fact I would be more worried about the hitchikers that can come with LR collected that way than sand collected on my own.

If you have any doubts ~ State Parks can be a good source for info on collecting while often being good places to collect. A state fishing license is a must in almost all cases. When collecting I always like to chat with a Ranger first and let him know what I intend to collect for my aquarium. Every Ranger I have met took an interest in what I was doing and were very helpful as to what I could and could not take. Here is agood article for you.

Florida's Regulations on "live sand":

"Live sand is no longer included in the regula-
tions so there is no formal (legal) definition. In
general, it refers to sand that has been exposed
to seawater for a period of time such that it can
more effectively support live organisms." ~Source

03/13/2007, 10:20 AM	#1
gotbags-10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Indy Posts: 263	sand from ocean so i know you can take limited amounts of corals with a license but what about sand? Would it be even worth to use in a reef aquarium and what would be the place to get it from, like how far out in the ocean and ways to transport it back. Anyone ever done this?

03/13/2007, 10:28 AM	#2
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	I think it would depend on where you collected it. Most the beach areas that people have general access to are too polluted to use sand from there. Others on RC may have more experience in ths area but I thought I once saw an article on here that basically advised against it. __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

03/13/2007, 10:37 AM	#3
jimwat Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,270	You have to be careful with adding ANY "unknowns" to a closed environment. Sand from the ocean may work fine, but I doubt that there is any advantage over purchased sand that would offset the risk of inadvertently adding something harmful to your tank IMO. __________________ "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer." Current Tank Info: 65 gal with 192w PC 10k, 192w VHO actinic, Blue-Moon LED, Tunze 6060 on WavySea, AquaController 3. 20gal sump, Natureef CDECX-1, Phosban Reactor, Remora, Kalk Drip, Ozone.

03/13/2007, 10:56 AM	#4
savethereef SCRK Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bellflower 90706 CA (So Cal) Posts: 7,720	i thought about the same thing the other day when i was at hermosa beach here in california the sand looked so nice and coarse but was not like my white sand i have at home __________________ Instead of building a reef in my home i would rather build my home in the reef. Rob aka STR SCRK & SCMAS MEMBER Current Tank Info: Leemar 450g 96L x36W x 30T 3/4 inch Starfire With 70g Sump Vertex 250 Royal Exclusive protein Skimmer Laguna 2900 Return pump 5 Aquaillumination Hydra's LED Modules. 4 Tunze Stream Bubble Magus Doser. Reef Keeper Elite

03/13/2007, 11:29 AM	#6
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	As a former collector in FL. I can tell you that acquiring your own sand can be fun and rewarding. Just use common sense, collect from areas that have an abundant population of marine life, and don't break any laws. In FL. animals like pistol shrimp, small snails, and seahares, can easily be found right off shore along sandy bottoms. As far as it being a risk it is no more different than adding live rock such as Gulf rock and others that are collected and shipped in water. In fact I would be more worried about the hitchikers that can come with LR collected that way than sand collected on my own. If you have any doubts ~ State Parks can be a good source for info on collecting while often being good places to collect. A state fishing license is a must in almost all cases. When collecting I always like to chat with a Ranger first and let him know what I intend to collect for my aquarium. Every Ranger I have met took an interest in what I was doing and were very helpful as to what I could and could not take. Here is agood article for you. Florida's Regulations on "live sand": "Live sand is no longer included in the regula- tions so there is no formal (legal) definition. In general, it refers to sand that has been exposed to seawater for a period of time such that it can more effectively support live organisms." ~Source __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket" Last edited by Aquabucket; 03/13/2007 at 11:39 AM.

03/13/2007, 11:18 AM	#5
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	I have used sea sand in my reef tank, it worked fine. I collected it in a clean area and rinsed it well before I used it though. I doubt taking a bucket of sand is going to get you in very much trouble.