Well, I live here in hawaii and it hit me....Why was I buying gravel if there are so many types of sand here on the island? On the south side of the island (1 hour away) I can get black sand and green sand which I am very interested in being so very rare and also pure white and seashell mixed sand right down the street. Anyhow, one of my buddies tried to boil the sand to wash it and it got so much algae.....so what work?
What's the BEST way to wash Beach Sand for Freshwater?
- Thread starter MistirE
- Start date
I belive it is more bad karma than illegal not 100% there.... you can put the sand in buckets and let them over flow with water while kinda stiring them method works pretty good also I tired a method I saw a member here doing (rallysman???) wich was sand in a pillow case and flowing water through it just a couple of ideas for you hope this helps
Your buddy got algae from boiled sand? Then you definately don't want him helping you with your tanks 
.
Boiling sterilizes the sand so he had other problems.
If you have the time and space spred the sand out and a clean surface and let it dry in the sun for a week to kill off most algae and parasites.
If not...
Clean the sand first with bleach, then dish soap and finally rinsing to remove what you washed free and all the bleach/soap you added. Depending on the amount of sand your doing this will take alot of water. If you can't taste the bleach or soap after you rinse it then rinse it once more and your done. If you haven't gotten ill after a week then it should be safe for your fish.
Black and green sand huh? Sounds like it could be worth the trouble.
Some people in the States might be willing to harm someone for substrate like that .
Let us see some pix of your process and your success.
Dr Joe
.
.Boiling sterilizes the sand so he had other problems.
If you have the time and space spred the sand out and a clean surface and let it dry in the sun for a week to kill off most algae and parasites.
If not...
Clean the sand first with bleach, then dish soap and finally rinsing to remove what you washed free and all the bleach/soap you added. Depending on the amount of sand your doing this will take alot of water. If you can't taste the bleach or soap after you rinse it then rinse it once more and your done. If you haven't gotten ill after a week then it should be safe for your fish.
Black and green sand huh? Sounds like it could be worth the trouble.
Some people in the States might be willing to harm someone for substrate like that
.Let us see some pix of your process and your success.
Dr Joe
.
Dr Joe;734324; said:Your buddy got algae from boiled sand? Then you definately don't want him helping you with your tanks
Boiling sterilizes the sand so he had other problems.
If you have the time and space spred the sand out and a clean surface and let it dry in the sun for a week to kill off most algae and parasites.
If not...
Clean the sand first with bleach, then dish soap and finally rinsing to remove what you washed free and all the bleach/soap you added. Depending on the amount of sand your doing this will take alot of water. If you can't taste the bleach or soap after you rinse it then rinse it once more and your done. If you haven't gotten ill after a week then it should be safe for your fish.
Black and green sand huh? Sounds like it could be worth the trouble.
Some people in the States might be willing to harm someone for substrate like that
Let us see some pix of your process and your success.
Dr Joe
.
Thankx....I'll definately put a post up when I do so....black sand....maybe, but green sand....I dont think there is any other place in the world that has it naturally...it caused by oviline which is created by eruptions by volcanoes.....anyhow, it's not illegal to take sand here in hawaii...also, karma.....thats more like taking lava rocks off the island....that's really bad luck...this island is based on good intentions well, it's staying on the island and also used to house live animal's, no harm done.
n/m, I just found something about it and it says something like you cant take more than one gallon of beach sand per day for personal use.
The black sand i'm pretty sure thats illegal and i have no clue about the green sand.
Just dont get caught
The black sand i'm pretty sure thats illegal and i have no clue about the green sand.
Just dont get caught
If your using marine beach sand for fresh water aquaria I wouldnt worry about parasites. Just rinse the sand several times in fresh water to remove the salt on the surface of the granules and in the wet voids in between. If the sand is porous (and I'm inclined to beleive that it probably is) then a a 24 hour soak in a container of fresh water with 5 parts water to 1 part sand will lower the salt content to neglible levels. Avoid using bleaches and detergents. Any bacteria that are living in the sand will be of benefit your tank and compliment your colony of beneficial bacteria.
Kil66 is right on the law. Here it is:
§205A-44 Prohibitions. (a) The mining or taking of sand, dead coral or coral rubble, rocks, soil, or other beach or marine deposits from the shoreline area is prohibited with the following exceptions:
(1) The taking from the shoreline area of the materials, not in excess of one gallon per person per day, for reasonable, personal, noncommercial use, provided that stricter provisions may be established by the counties;
(2) Where the mining or taking is authorized by a variance pursuant to this part;
(3) The clearing of the materials from existing drainage pipes and canals and from the mouths of streams including clearing for the purposes under section 46-11.5; provided that the sand removed shall be placed on adjacent areas unless such placement would result in significant turbidity; or
(4) The cleaning of the shoreline area for state or county maintenance purposes, including the clearing for purposes under section 46-12; provided that the sand removed shall be placed on adjacent areas unless the placement would result in significant turbidity.
(b) Except as provided in this section, structures are prohibited in the shoreline area without a variance pursuant to this part. Structures in the shoreline area shall not need a variance if:
(1) They were completed prior to June 22, 1970;
(2) They received either a building permit, board approval, or shoreline setback variance prior to June 16, 1989;
(3) They are outside the shoreline area when they receive either a building permit or board approval;
(4) They are necessary for or ancillary to continuation of existing agriculture or aquaculture in the shoreline area on June 16, 1989;
(5) They are minor structures permitted under rules adopted by the department which do not affect beach processes or artificially fix the shoreline and do not interfere with public access or public views to and along the shoreline; or
(6) Work being done consists of maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and minor additions or alterations of legal boating, maritime, or watersports recreational facilities, which are publicly owned, and which result in little or no interference with natural shoreline processes;
provided that permitted structures may be repaired, but shall not be enlarged within the shoreline area without a variance. [L 1986, c 258, pt of §1; am L 1988, c 375, §1; am L 1989, c 356, §12]
There's also the local superstition that taking sand away from beaches will doom the taker to perpetual bad luck.
The Hawaii vacation guide also cautions visitors to wash any sand taken, especially black and green sands, due to the fact that there have been thousands of people (mostly surfers) who have had their cremated ashes spread in the coves where these sands occur.
§205A-44 Prohibitions. (a) The mining or taking of sand, dead coral or coral rubble, rocks, soil, or other beach or marine deposits from the shoreline area is prohibited with the following exceptions:
(1) The taking from the shoreline area of the materials, not in excess of one gallon per person per day, for reasonable, personal, noncommercial use, provided that stricter provisions may be established by the counties;
(2) Where the mining or taking is authorized by a variance pursuant to this part;
(3) The clearing of the materials from existing drainage pipes and canals and from the mouths of streams including clearing for the purposes under section 46-11.5; provided that the sand removed shall be placed on adjacent areas unless such placement would result in significant turbidity; or
(4) The cleaning of the shoreline area for state or county maintenance purposes, including the clearing for purposes under section 46-12; provided that the sand removed shall be placed on adjacent areas unless the placement would result in significant turbidity.
(b) Except as provided in this section, structures are prohibited in the shoreline area without a variance pursuant to this part. Structures in the shoreline area shall not need a variance if:
(1) They were completed prior to June 22, 1970;
(2) They received either a building permit, board approval, or shoreline setback variance prior to June 16, 1989;
(3) They are outside the shoreline area when they receive either a building permit or board approval;
(4) They are necessary for or ancillary to continuation of existing agriculture or aquaculture in the shoreline area on June 16, 1989;
(5) They are minor structures permitted under rules adopted by the department which do not affect beach processes or artificially fix the shoreline and do not interfere with public access or public views to and along the shoreline; or
(6) Work being done consists of maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and minor additions or alterations of legal boating, maritime, or watersports recreational facilities, which are publicly owned, and which result in little or no interference with natural shoreline processes;
provided that permitted structures may be repaired, but shall not be enlarged within the shoreline area without a variance. [L 1986, c 258, pt of §1; am L 1988, c 375, §1; am L 1989, c 356, §12]
There's also the local superstition that taking sand away from beaches will doom the taker to perpetual bad luck.
The Hawaii vacation guide also cautions visitors to wash any sand taken, especially black and green sands, due to the fact that there have been thousands of people (mostly surfers) who have had their cremated ashes spread in the coves where these sands occur.
