Can aragonite be re-used?

percula99 · 02/11/2011, 01:16 PM

I have some old dirty aragonite sand laying around from a previous tank and I was wondering if I cleaned it really well, if it could be re-used in my display tank? Are there any special techniques that need to be used or is rinsing it thoroughly enough?

thump9 · 02/11/2011, 01:27 PM

how does it smell ? If theres a rotten egg odor id say its risky. If not, do a couple good rinses, to make sure any dried up detritus material is washed out, then set it out to air dry before adding to the tank. Depending on your tap water quality and particulates left behind u might have phosphates but this could dissipate over time with water changes.

percula99 · 02/11/2011, 01:53 PM

Thanks thump9. A buddy just told me to rinse it and soak it in vinegar, then rinse it again. And no, it does not smell bad.

Allmost · 02/11/2011, 01:58 PM

well aragonite will desolve in vinegar ! PH of 4.0 I think.

I would not re use it. as there is no way of getting all the organics out. but if you have to, I would rinse it very well for hours and hours under tap water. get all detritus out, then rinse some more

after you are convinced it is clean, leave in a bucket and fill it up with RO/DI . let it soak for 2 days, then test for po4, replace the RO/DI water, wait another 2 days, and test po4 again, continue till you read Zero on po4 and then use it.

with new sand, this process takes about 1 week. so expect a bit more .

good luck

dvenson · 02/11/2011, 04:40 PM

i have done it. it was a new system so i was not worried about organics but it did stink up my house for a day.

02/11/2011, 01:16 PM	#1
percula99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 609	Can aragonite be re-used? I have some old dirty aragonite sand laying around from a previous tank and I was wondering if I cleaned it really well, if it could be re-used in my display tank? Are there any special techniques that need to be used or is rinsing it thoroughly enough? __________________ Hobby Experience: Marine tanks for thirty years. Current Tanks: 180 gallon reef. 270 lbs live rock. SPS, LPS and softies. 3 Kessil A360W-E pendants and 2 Evergrow IT-5080 fixtures.

02/11/2011, 01:53 PM	#3
percula99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 609	Thanks thump9. A buddy just told me to rinse it and soak it in vinegar, then rinse it again. And no, it does not smell bad. __________________ Hobby Experience: Marine tanks for thirty years. Current Tanks: 180 gallon reef. 270 lbs live rock. SPS, LPS and softies. 3 Kessil A360W-E pendants and 2 Evergrow IT-5080 fixtures.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Environmentally friendly aragonite	dgh5	Reef Discussion	11	01/11/2010 10:40 PM

02/11/2011, 01:27 PM	#2
thump9 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 55	how does it smell ? If theres a rotten egg odor id say its risky. If not, do a couple good rinses, to make sure any dried up detritus material is washed out, then set it out to air dry before adding to the tank. Depending on your tap water quality and particulates left behind u might have phosphates but this could dissipate over time with water changes.

02/11/2011, 01:58 PM	#4
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	well aragonite will desolve in vinegar ! PH of 4.0 I think. I would not re use it. as there is no way of getting all the organics out. but if you have to, I would rinse it very well for hours and hours under tap water. get all detritus out, then rinse some more after you are convinced it is clean, leave in a bucket and fill it up with RO/DI . let it soak for 2 days, then test for po4, replace the RO/DI water, wait another 2 days, and test po4 again, continue till you read Zero on po4 and then use it. with new sand, this process takes about 1 week. so expect a bit more . good luck

02/11/2011, 04:40 PM	#5
dvenson Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Denver Co Posts: 66	i have done it. it was a new system so i was not worried about organics but it did stink up my house for a day.