rinsing sand

Melina74 · 09/22/2007, 04:14 PM

I got some Caribsea Aragonite sand. It says to rinse it prior to putting it in the tank. Is it OK to rinse it with tap water, or do I have to use RO/DI water? If I rinse it with tap water and let the sand dry before putting it in, will phosphates and other contaminants remain in the sand?
Thanks.

AZDesertRat · 09/22/2007, 08:38 PM

Tap water is fine.

graveyardworm · 09/22/2007, 08:40 PM

I prefer not to rinse, the fine particles are beneficial for the sand bed, especially if you're setting up a DSB.

AZDesertRat · 09/22/2007, 08:45 PM

Yes thats another story.
If you are wanting a functioning deep sand bed then don't rinse at all. The fines and dust are beneficial for bacteria growth.
If you are just going for a decorative sand bed then it does not matter.

Melina74 · 09/22/2007, 08:58 PM

I was planning to make it 1 1/2 to 2" thick.

graveyardworm · 09/22/2007, 09:07 PM

To answer your question, rinsing with tap will be fine as AZ said. Then its your choice whether to do it or not.

AZDesertRat · 09/22/2007, 09:07 PM

Doesn't matter then. A functioning deep sand bed needs to be 3-5+ inches deep.

CruzinKim · 09/22/2007, 09:11 PM

If setting up shallow sandbed, I've always gave it a quick rinse with tap water. Not enough water remains with the sand to worry about anything bad happening I like to keep my sandbed at 1" deep for shallow sand bed, easily to maintain.

Melina74 · 09/22/2007, 09:41 PM

Thanks everyone!

09/22/2007, 04:14 PM	#1
Melina74 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 55	rinsing sand I got some Caribsea Aragonite sand. It says to rinse it prior to putting it in the tank. Is it OK to rinse it with tap water, or do I have to use RO/DI water? If I rinse it with tap water and let the sand dry before putting it in, will phosphates and other contaminants remain in the sand? Thanks.

09/22/2007, 08:40 PM	#3
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	I prefer not to rinse, the fine particles are beneficial for the sand bed, especially if you're setting up a DSB. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

09/22/2007, 09:07 PM	#6
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	To answer your question, rinsing with tap will be fine as AZ said. Then its your choice whether to do it or not. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

09/22/2007, 08:38 PM	#2
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Tap water is fine.

09/22/2007, 08:45 PM	#4
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Yes thats another story. If you are wanting a functioning deep sand bed then don't rinse at all. The fines and dust are beneficial for bacteria growth. If you are just going for a decorative sand bed then it does not matter.

09/22/2007, 08:58 PM	#5
Melina74 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 55	I was planning to make it 1 1/2 to 2" thick.

09/22/2007, 09:11 PM	#8
CruzinKim Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: If Not There, Then Here. Posts: 693	If setting up shallow sandbed, I've always gave it a quick rinse with tap water. Not enough water remains with the sand to worry about anything bad happening I like to keep my sandbed at 1" deep for shallow sand bed, easily to maintain.

09/22/2007, 09:41 PM	#9
Melina74 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 55	Thanks everyone!