i have this 55 gal reef tank set up and alot of the base rock and all the sand is str8 form the beach sinc i live 5 min away, in FTL LAUDERDALE FL. can beach sand be bad for a tank?? i have had no problems but my two friends each just set up tanks like a month ago and there ammomnia is still high and nirtrites are up. i think its stll cycling but they went to a pet stroe and i think they got some bogus advice from a guy there. he said sand from a beach is toxic to tank, it has "some sort of bateria that will make the ammonia always be high". i think its BS, anyone have some comments? alotta my stuff comes from t the beach, rocks sand, polyp corals starfish, cucumbers, numerous fish. i have not been able to keep a fish in a hile except for my PJ cardinal but that is cuz of an Ich infestatio which i have pevious posts on.
collecting sand from a beach?
- Thread starter blackthunda77
- Start date
IMO what the shop said is bogus about the bacteria keeping the amonia high. I have several tanks set up that have live beach sand in them and some with real ocean water as well, straight from the ocean, non filtered. You do have to make sure that you collect it from a good non poluted place of course. As far as the other tanks being set up for a month and having the nitrites and amonia high, I would say that those tanks are right on track as it normally takes 5-7 weeks on average for a cycle to complete. I also collect most of my stuff from the beach, tide pools and shallow water diving. I do quarentine my fish and treat them if need be.
A lot of folks have set up tanks using beach sand (imagine that, sand from a beach! 
). More than a few have used Ft. L. sand, as you. A lot depends on where you actually get the sand. ANY sand can be "cleaned" and used with absolutely zero threat of "permanent bacteria." However, you can get impure sand, or sand with unfavorable organisms/pathogens... for sure!
So, what to do? If you are not sure you can always bleach the sand. That will get any/all live impurities. You can do this by first filling a 40G garbage can about 1/2 full with WATER. Then, dump in one gallon of bleach. Then gradually "stir" in the sand. Do this slowly, ensuring plenty of contact time. After this is all done, let it set overnight. Now, you get to do the strenuous job of rinsing the sand. You don't want any bleach getting in your tank... I'm not sure how long it would be harmful, but it's just not a good idea to try and figure that one out!
To rinse the sand, you should drive down piece of PVC pipe (if you can do this as you add the sand (dump the sand in around it) you won't have to force it down, and you can even use smaller diameter. Now, you want to seal up a hose to the top of the tube and let the water run continuously to flush out the sand. Again, this type of application can vary according to how much sand, the efficiency of the flush, etc.
You'd want the sand to totally dry out if you're not sure if it's rinsed well enough.
Now, I have to interject with an opinion. We did a few "beach runs" ourselves. In fact, Dale might remember the infamous "Monty and Smitty Beach Run." Here's my opinion: You CAN use beach sand from many parts of the coast... but WHY????? Have you collected it? Have you cleaned it? It's backbreaking work, it's a pain to haul back up to the truck, it's a pain to do all the rinsing/cleaning, if you don't have a pickup truck you're pretty much guaranteed to make a mess in your vehicle... and in many areas you can get FINED for removing ANYthing from the beach. :shake:
We learned the "hard" way. After the gas, trouble, etc., it was WAY worth it to just spend a few bucks and get a few bags from the local hardware store.
HTH!
). More than a few have used Ft. L. sand, as you. A lot depends on where you actually get the sand. ANY sand can be "cleaned" and used with absolutely zero threat of "permanent bacteria." However, you can get impure sand, or sand with unfavorable organisms/pathogens... for sure! So, what to do? If you are not sure you can always bleach the sand. That will get any/all live impurities. You can do this by first filling a 40G garbage can about 1/2 full with WATER. Then, dump in one gallon of bleach. Then gradually "stir" in the sand. Do this slowly, ensuring plenty of contact time. After this is all done, let it set overnight. Now, you get to do the strenuous job of rinsing the sand. You don't want any bleach getting in your tank... I'm not sure how long it would be harmful, but it's just not a good idea to try and figure that one out!
To rinse the sand, you should drive down piece of PVC pipe (if you can do this as you add the sand (dump the sand in around it) you won't have to force it down, and you can even use smaller diameter. Now, you want to seal up a hose to the top of the tube and let the water run continuously to flush out the sand. Again, this type of application can vary according to how much sand, the efficiency of the flush, etc.
You'd want the sand to totally dry out if you're not sure if it's rinsed well enough.
Now, I have to interject with an opinion.
We did a few "beach runs" ourselves. In fact, Dale might remember the infamous "Monty and Smitty Beach Run." Here's my opinion: You CAN use beach sand from many parts of the coast... but WHY????? Have you collected it? Have you cleaned it? It's backbreaking work, it's a pain to haul back up to the truck, it's a pain to do all the rinsing/cleaning, if you don't have a pickup truck you're pretty much guaranteed to make a mess in your vehicle... and in many areas you can get FINED for removing ANYthing from the beach. :shake: We learned the "hard" way. After the gas, trouble, etc., it was WAY worth it to just spend a few bucks and get a few bags from the local hardware store.
HTH!
Hey Monty,
I do remember that run. Wow, that was awhile ago to.
That is another factor that you have to think of when doing this. How long will it be in the buckets and do you want to go through the rinsing thing? Now, lucky me, I get sand from pretty clean areas and I for one dont rinse it at all because I want everything in it that exists. I have come up with some pretty interesting creatures to from small crabs and shrimp to small sand eels. My way of thinking is this: Where does live sand come from? Where does live rock come from? From the ocean in most cases. Now I am not saying that you should run out there and grab it, as I mentioned earlier, you need to get it from a known clean source.
I do remember that run. Wow, that was awhile ago to.
That is another factor that you have to think of when doing this. How long will it be in the buckets and do you want to go through the rinsing thing? Now, lucky me, I get sand from pretty clean areas and I for one dont rinse it at all because I want everything in it that exists. I have come up with some pretty interesting creatures to from small crabs and shrimp to small sand eels. My way of thinking is this: Where does live sand come from? Where does live rock come from? From the ocean in most cases. Now I am not saying that you should run out there and grab it, as I mentioned earlier, you need to get it from a known clean source.
Heeey
I got some live sand from the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and put it STRAIGHT into my aquarium. It's been 2 weeks, and the ammonia levels are going down as my cycle is completing. It's a 2 month old tank. just added cleaners days ago.
I even got some rocks from a Seattle beach...probobly not that clean!!! I rinsed and soaked them in hot fresh water. No problems noticed.
I got some live sand from the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and put it STRAIGHT into my aquarium. It's been 2 weeks, and the ammonia levels are going down as my cycle is completing. It's a 2 month old tank. just added cleaners days ago.
I even got some rocks from a Seattle beach...probobly not that clean!!! I rinsed and soaked them in hot fresh water. No problems noticed.
I live on the Gulf side of florida, and I would be leary about using sand off the beaches here. Mainly motor oil and gasoline from boats is what would concern me. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it takes a surprisingly small amount of oil to completely contaminate several hundred gallons of water.
In Cabo San Lucas
I was at the marina docks, where MANY many huge yachts were ported, and there were brilliant communities of puffers, and at least 8 diferent types of fish I saw. And the water looked sh*tty btw
I was at the marina docks, where MANY many huge yachts were ported, and there were brilliant communities of puffers, and at least 8 diferent types of fish I saw. And the water looked sh*tty btw
Hey I like this beach sand idea I live a few hours from the Jersey Shore and we vacation every summer for a few days in Wildwood New Jersey advertised as the cleanest beaches on the east coast. I would like to add more Live sand to my tank , not a ton but just enought to get some cool hitchikers. Anyone know if Jerses Shore sand is OK?
Raki,
The drawback that you will have is the fact that you are more into the temperate zone of the marine world. Most organisms that thrive in temperate zones will not survive that of the tropical zone.
The drawback that you will have is the fact that you are more into the temperate zone of the marine world. Most organisms that thrive in temperate zones will not survive that of the tropical zone.
It does get really hot here and the water temp gets up to 70 + degrees It may be worth the try if I wait until the water temp is up? It usually is cooler when we vacation in early July but we usually take a day trip or two into Aug and Sept when the water temp is up. I know there are lots of worms and small crustaceans in the sand I've dug in it since I was five and I've always been amazed by the creatures that I've uncovered. But I don't want to do any harm to any of them I will have to think hard on this one.
Thanks Reefscape
Thanks Reefscape