beach sand for freshwater tank?

[mcolby]

can i put sand from the beach in my freshwater tank???

 

[knifegill]

It might raise you pH, but if you're okay with that and your tank inhabitants are all suited for it, should be fine. Just boil it first for a good long time and a do few water changes to the boiling water to remove toxins, then do a running rinse in a tipped bucket stirring the crud out and letting it rinse out as the bucket fills. You'll find this more manageable in small batches rather than doing a full bucket all at once.

Make sure it's legal to take the sand before you do it.

 

[xrayjeeper83]

x2

 

[Hot Slime]

It would be less annoying to just buy sand to use....unless thtas what ur trying to aviod. Then the above would be ur best bet.

 

[romanjetfighter]

i used beach sand without boiling, just rinse it to get salt out. it was fine

 

[Renzo]

i have used this over the years in various tanks. Depends on which part of the world you are in the cleaning of it may require boiling to remove toxins, however I have never boiled mine and never had an issue.

 

[bbortko]

Seems like a lot of work to save such a small amount of money

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

Seems like a lot of work to save such a small amount of money

But it ncomes with benefits.

You chill at the beach, have fun and get some free sand while your at it ;]

 

[slimmer]

Use to keep a green iquana on sand and i would just bake the sand in the oven or on the bbq.

 

[gavigan1]

i used beach sand without boiling, just rinse it to get salt out. it was fine

No issue either, depends on the beach though.... gulf coast of louisiana, probable not the best place to collect sand.