Sand from the ocean?

dfraley_23 · 04-08-2006, 03:10 PM

Can sand straight from the ocean be used in a saltwater tank?Or does it have to be cured first?I heard that its fine to use but some say different.Ocean sand,to me,already has all the little critters and bacteria in it.

Cougra · 04-08-2006, 03:36 PM

Yes the sand from the ocean is already alive, however you really do need to be very careful where you collect it from as most of the sand found along the shore lines is highly contaminated from our pollutants. While in the ocean it can still support life because the toxins get diluted fairly quickly, in our tanks these toxins can be detrimental.

If you are going to collect from the ocean make sure you collect well away from any shore line and preferably not in the wake of freshwater runoff.

Little Luey · 04-10-2006, 07:05 PM

Make sure collecting is legal where you are!!

R.yumaDaddy? · 05-01-2006, 02:31 AM

I collected some sand from the keys along the shoreline, but didnt even bother taking it home because it smelled absolutely rancid. Not sure why. Its definetely something I would have never put in my tank w/ out curing first.

lcstorc · 05-01-2006, 09:03 AM

I would be way worried about hitchikers as well. Who knows what crabs, worms, or other critters are hidden inside that may grow and multiply and become a problem you can't get rid of. Some will be good critters, but my fear of the baddies would outweigh the good critters for me.
Peace
Lynn

Frankie · 05-01-2006, 09:17 AM

Yes i think you can take it from the ocean but need to rinse it well and dry it out so in the end you have SAND. Thats the only way you can safly use shoreline sand, is by killing it first. If cost is the reason for you wanting to do this i'd just go to a depot and get some play sand. Its fairly safe though id be leary of silicates. Go Bare Bottom.

Its cleaner.

silverant · 05-01-2006, 12:45 PM

I took sand from a sandbar in southern Fla. washed sand added to my tank my whole system crashed but not from any kind of cycle all peram. stayed the same so I would say it was some kind of toxin held in the sand. Would not advise but if you do I would be verry careful. bad exprence

R.yumaDaddy? · 05-01-2006, 12:55 PM

I dont know about play sand Frankie. One of my friends tried this in his 20 gal and pH crashed twice. I assume it offers inferior buffering abilities. But correct me if I'm wrong

lcstorc · 05-01-2006, 01:09 PM

This thread talks all about types of sand to use and how to test the play sand for alk.
Dry Sand....Is it safe for me to use ?

Hope it helps.
Peace
Lynn

Frankie · 05-01-2006, 02:34 PM

sorry to here that R. When i was a sand junky i used agronite as a DSB. but after a fewe years of that i learned my lesson and this time will be BB.

04-08-2006, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
dfraley_23 Tunicate Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sand from the ocean? Can sand straight from the ocean be used in a saltwater tank?Or does it have to be cured first?I heard that its fine to use but some say different.Ocean sand,to me,already has all the little critters and bacteria in it.

04-08-2006, 03:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand from the ocean? Yes the sand from the ocean is already alive, however you really do need to be very careful where you collect it from as most of the sand found along the shore lines is highly contaminated from our pollutants. While in the ocean it can still support life because the toxins get diluted fairly quickly, in our tanks these toxins can be detrimental. If you are going to collect from the ocean make sure you collect well away from any shore line and preferably not in the wake of freshwater runoff. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

04-10-2006, 07:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Little Luey Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 432 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand from the ocean? Make sure collecting is legal where you are!! __________________ Little Luey 20Gal, 30 lbs. Live rock. 1 yellow goby 1 firefish 1 rainsford goby 5 turbo snails 1 feather duster 1 devil's hand leather 1 sea grass colony 2 Zoantoids colonies

05-01-2006, 02:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
R.yumaDaddy? Torch coral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 513 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand from the ocean? I collected some sand from the keys along the shoreline, but didnt even bother taking it home because it smelled absolutely rancid. Not sure why. Its definetely something I would have never put in my tank w/ out curing first. __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but what about the early worm?

05-01-2006, 09:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,889 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand from the ocean? I would be way worried about hitchikers as well. Who knows what crabs, worms, or other critters are hidden inside that may grow and multiply and become a problem you can't get rid of. Some will be good critters, but my fear of the baddies would outweigh the good critters for me. Peace Lynn

05-01-2006, 09:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,535 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand from the ocean? Yes i think you can take it from the ocean but need to rinse it well and dry it out so in the end you have SAND. Thats the only way you can safly use shoreline sand, is by killing it first. If cost is the reason for you wanting to do this i'd just go to a depot and get some play sand. Its fairly safe though id be leary of silicates. Go Bare Bottom. Its cleaner.

05-01-2006, 12:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
silverant Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 9 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand from the ocean? I took sand from a sandbar in southern Fla. washed sand added to my tank my whole system crashed but not from any kind of cycle all peram. stayed the same so I would say it was some kind of toxin held in the sand. Would not advise but if you do I would be verry careful. bad exprence

05-01-2006, 12:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
R.yumaDaddy? Torch coral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 513 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sand from the ocean? I dont know about play sand Frankie. One of my friends tried this in his 20 gal and pH crashed twice. I assume it offers inferior buffering abilities. But correct me if I'm wrong __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but what about the early worm?

05-01-2006, 01:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,889 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand from the ocean? This thread talks all about types of sand to use and how to test the play sand for alk. Dry Sand....Is it safe for me to use ? Hope it helps. Peace Lynn

05-01-2006, 02:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 8,535 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sand from the ocean? sorry to here that R. When i was a sand junky i used agronite as a DSB. but after a fewe years of that i learned my lesson and this time will be BB.

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