re-using sand

[pmui]

Hi all,

here a question, I going to relocate/upgrade my 55gal tank to a 120gal. my question is should i reuse the sand? it's southdown with a mixture of oolithic stuff. the main reason I'm asking is, that horrible smell when you scoop it out of the tank. The tank is 3+ years old. any suggestions or coments would be helpful.

thanks,
Peter

 

[jackson6745]

The sand is full of waste. I wouldn't start a reef that way.

 

[marrone]

I would just use the top layer and place that on top of a new sand bed. This should help to seed it and the top layer usally is ok and should have some bugs, worms or things in.

 

[Reefer420]

If its a DSB I wouldn't take all of it- maybe just the top couple of inches. DSB beds can develope nasty gases that can kill the reef if they are disturbed. A shallow sand bed should be a problem. I wouldn't take more than an inch or so of the sand- you'd be mixing the bottom gunk that still needs to be broken down with the top, well aerated layer.

 

[Reefer420]

A shallow sand bed should be a problem. ...

er- I meant it shouldn't be a problem!

 

[SlamaJama]

too many nitrates...seed ur new sand..m2c

 

[NYPDFrogman]

I wouldnt re use it once you desturb it it's going to release hydrogen sulfide and it's going to stink. Coney island creek, newtown creek come to mind at low tide.

JMHO

 

[ShaunW]

Peter,
Use new sand. Too many locked up phosphates and nitrates in there.

 

[aaron]

If you wanted to be thrifty you could scoop out the top 1/2 inch and put it in the new tank then take the rest out and really vigerously wash it in a bucket with a hose, then spread it out on some plastic in the sun to dry then you could probably re use it. i have done this a couple of times. One time i even baked it all in the oven to kill anything that may have been in it.

 

[pmui]

thanks all-

think i'll take abit of it to seed the new tank.

Peter