Beach sand

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Bigtdotcom

Bigtdotcom

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 8, 2009
426
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Gold Coast
Wondering if anyone use beach sand in their tanks? I know I can get sand for cheap at hardware stores but it only comes in large bags and I only have a small tank and have no use for the extra. And sand at pet stores is completely over priced, I I've across the road from the beach and could easily grab a few hand fulls. It's for a freshwater tank.
 
Is the sand from freshwater or saltwater? If is freshwater I would use it as is. It will add some beneficial organisms. If it is from saltwater use the dry sand and wash it. If you take wet sand you will get a lot of die off and your tank will cycle,
 
Wash it good. It's pretty dirty when it's dry. I've done it and it worked out fine.
 
Ok cool would I need to bake it in the oven to be sure that there is nothing alive in the sand that could harm my fish? Also will it add any salt to my tank?
 
Bigtdotcom said:
Ok cool would I need to bake it in the oven to be sure that there is nothing alive in the sand that could harm my fish? Also will it add any salt to my tank?
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Nah. I wouldn't worry. Just rinse it out GOOD. It is DIRTY! After such a very good rinse/sift there should be negligible amounts of salt. If you want to be double sure you can sterilize it by baking it.
 
I just came over to the beach to collect some sand and I'm noticing the sand here is very fine. You thing it's ok to use? Couldn't be finer the play sand could it?

image.jpeg
 
So does any one else have an opinion on this before i go an add sand I collected from a salt water beach to my freshwater aquarium? I collected the sand then baked it in to oven on the highest setting for 1.5 hrs then gave it a really good wash. The sand is now soaking in a bucket of fresh water
 
Depending on how big your tank is it might be just easier to get pool filtation sand. You can have that for less than 10$ for 50lb bag. It all depends on the type of fish as well. Rays and cichlids will disturb the sand so something like play sand isn't ideal due to clogging. Also I hear people who run canisters always steer away with fine sand because the impeller will break or clog up and cause a horrible failure. I believe the Fluval series everyone talks about I have a sump so didn't really apply to me.


I know people who used beach sand but it was freshwater maybe someone else can help. For me I'd rather pay 10-20$ than take a risk on my expensive fish lol
 
Bigtdotcom said:
So does any one else have an opinion on this before i go an add sand I collected from a salt water beach to my freshwater aquarium? I collected the sand then baked it in to oven on the highest setting for 1.5 hrs then gave it a really good wash. The sand is now soaking in a bucket of fresh water
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I hope you baked it in the shape of a pie. mmm pie
 
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