rinsing sand?

coffey18 · 10/04/2008, 09:48 AM

Setting up new tank this weekend what is the best way to do this? How should i rinse it, do i use salt water or fresh?

sdietz2469 · 10/04/2008, 11:03 AM

i put it in a bucket about 1/3 of the way up.... put a hose in it and swish it around till the water runs clear... then drain as much of the waer as possible out of it...
shane

shag26272 · 10/04/2008, 11:10 AM

I dont rinse it. Put it in your tank and get a plastic lid to a rubbermaid. Put the rubbermaid lid on top of the sand and fill up the tank. Water should have little cloudiness. I definitely wouldnt want to rinse my sand with tap water either. I have set up at least 3 tanks just this month as I have said and the water was clear right away. I used caribsea argamax which is a fine oolite sand.

rogergolf66 · 10/04/2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sdietz2469
i put it in a bucket about 1/3 of the way up.... put a hose in it and swish it around till the water runs clear... then drain as much of the waer as possible out of it...
shane

x2 here. you will need to get some live sand to reseed this as it will be dead after rinsing. you would go through way to much salt water if you did it that way. you would also just wash alot of the good stuff out anyways.

I would not recommend reusing the sand if you don't rinse it JMO.

good luck

Aquarist007 · 10/04/2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rogergolf66
x2 here. you will need to get some live sand to reseed this as it will be dead after rinsing. you would go through way to much salt water if you did it that way. you would also just wash alot of the good stuff out anyways.

I would not recommend reusing the sand if you don't rinse it JMO.

good luck

I agree--in fact I don't recommend reusing sand period. It does break down over time and lose buffering capabilities, become trapped with nitrates and loose its coarseness and the ability to support some bethnic inverts as a result.

I see no problem using tap water to rinse the sand out initially.

10/04/2008, 09:48 AM	#1
coffey18 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: franklin square Posts: 140	rinsing sand? Setting up new tank this weekend what is the best way to do this? How should i rinse it, do i use salt water or fresh? __________________ "Your Gonna Need a Bigger Boat" Current Tank Info: 75 gallon

10/04/2008, 11:03 AM	#2
sdietz2469 stickhead n chalice freak Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Milwaukie, OR 97267 Posts: 529	i put it in a bucket about 1/3 of the way up.... put a hose in it and swish it around till the water runs clear... then drain as much of the waer as possible out of it... shane __________________ King Of Aquatico Island corals are like crack, but more expensive, and you cant OD on them.... Current Tank Info: 300DD sps dominant, ATB Med ext w/airstar 4-6105s, apex, geo 618 CaRx, PM 620 kalk, 500 gal total water. Check out my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2116897

10/04/2008, 11:10 AM	#3
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	I dont rinse it. Put it in your tank and get a plastic lid to a rubbermaid. Put the rubbermaid lid on top of the sand and fill up the tank. Water should have little cloudiness. I definitely wouldnt want to rinse my sand with tap water either. I have set up at least 3 tanks just this month as I have said and the water was clear right away. I used caribsea argamax which is a fine oolite sand. __________________ .