So I am setting up two 40 breeder tanks with a 40 breeder sump. I took all the sand from my friends 60g tank breakdown. I have been cleaning it with tap water and it is now drying then I was going to clean it again and give it a final rinse with RODI. Is this fine or should I plan on just buying new sand? If so how much sand will I need and what kind?
Sand - to clean or replace
- Thread starter cmantis
- Start date
clean it...use it
Does that sound like the right approach? I have been putting it into a rubbermaid in batches and pouring 5-10 gallons of water in there, mixing it around, and then letting it settle a bit. Then I pour out the water and repeat until the water is mostly clear. Next I am letting it dry then going to clean it a few times again and last rinse with RODI water.
- Location
- New Jersey
IMHO , don't use it. Sand is not that expensive. Depending on how deep you plan to go, for a 40 breeder, it would not cost too much.
Sand is one thing that can cause issues and they may not appear suddenly.
Sunny
Sand is one thing that can cause issues and they may not appear suddenly.
Sunny
- Location
- Long Island, NY
Just to be safe I would not reuse the sand. I was going to do the same thing when I went from my 55g to my 90g, however my tests did not come out okay. Shell out a little more now, so you wont be going out of your mind with possible nutrient issues later.
done it 100 times... in past 20years...NEVER a problem
half the sand in my tank is used what u have to do is rinse the hell out of it put it in a bucket half full with a garden house at the bottom and when the bucket start to overflow dump it and fill again do this till the water dont get cloudy any more then ur good to go
- Location
- Bronx, ny
+1
If you don't pay for NYC water & sewer tax (which we are charged at 150% of the water used) do as Dubs, rinse the heck out of it in a bucket with the hose placed under it set at a medium flow. If you do pay NYC water & sewer tax, I'd say dump it (unless of course it is a sand that you REALLY like). Buying new sand will most likely be cheaper.
BTW, I don't get why you would allow it to settle before dumping the water out. To me, and I may be wrong, you are allowing all the muck to settle back down on & in to the sand.
BTW, I don't get why you would allow it to settle before dumping the water out. To me, and I may be wrong, you are allowing all the muck to settle back down on & in to the sand.
Last edited:
I don't pay for my water but don't have a hose so am using the rubbermaid tub. I figured that by letting it sit for a bit any sand that got stirred up would settle back down. Maybe I am wrong for doing that. When I pour the water in I then mix it up good by hand. Scoop out all the water and repeat. Now I am on the third and final batch and the other two are drying.
Also I have heard people mention using eggcrate under the sand. I have some but am trying to figure out what that would do.
Also I have heard people mention using eggcrate under the sand. I have some but am trying to figure out what that would do.
I did not do this, but I believe it is used to keep the rocks off of the bottom glass. No rock pressure points on the bottom glass.
- Location
- Miami
When i got my 100 gallon rimless i used all the sand from my 57 gal. All i did was rinse it and add new sand . And never had a problem .
Reef Fixations
vendor
- Location
- South Hackensack, NJ
there's nothing wrong with reusing the sand so long as you trust the source.
It may be high in silicates or maybe someone used copper. There could also be many other variables. I've reused salt a few times but they always came from my own or friends' tanks that I knew were careful about those things.
Sand can be like a sponge and soak in issues that seem to not go away and you may not be able to verify what the issue is until you remove it (if that's even possible).
Sometimes people try to save a few bucks and use sandbox sand or contruction sand but those are high in silicates which will bleed into your water. But, if you trust the source than I wouldn't hesitate to reuse it.
It may be high in silicates or maybe someone used copper. There could also be many other variables. I've reused salt a few times but they always came from my own or friends' tanks that I knew were careful about those things.
Sand can be like a sponge and soak in issues that seem to not go away and you may not be able to verify what the issue is until you remove it (if that's even possible).
Sometimes people try to save a few bucks and use sandbox sand or contruction sand but those are high in silicates which will bleed into your water. But, if you trust the source than I wouldn't hesitate to reuse it.
- Location
- Peekskill, NY
+1 Fiji Pink is pertty!
- Location
- Miami
I USE CaribSea Aragonite Special Grade Reef
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