can i use sand from a sand pit near my house ?

[aquaman5000]

ok hers whats going on iv herd of ppl using play sand in there tanks. and im like broke right now and i want sand in my tank so there is a few sand pits in my area that i could just go to grab like a2 5 gallon buckets snag some sand and be happy. but is it safe ?

 

[Bud8Fan]

Deja Vu

 

[Druu]

ok hers whats going on iv herd of ppl using play sand in there tanks. and im like broke right now and i want sand in my tank so there is a few sand pits in my area that i could just go to grab like a2 5 gallon buckets snag some sand and be happy. but is it safe ?

SURE! While, you're at it, see if you can get the neighborhood animals to urinate and defecate in it as well. Maybe rub it along the muffler of your car to get some nice pollutants in it. If need be, unzip and take a whiz in it yourself!

Anyone can tell that was sarcastic. Do not use the sand. It's likely contaminated with a wide range of things, only a few of which were listed above. Pathogens etc. If you're broke, sell your fish and buy clothes and food. You may not have a large fish budget, but that's different than being broke. 50 lbs for $3 at home depot. Are you willing to risk your fish for a few dollars value in sand?

 

[johnny roastbeef]

Dry sand is not likely to have any bacteria / parasites on it, especially at this time of year. Dry sand is just not good medium for anything living. Having said that, it could contain some other contaminants, but you need to decide what the likelihood is. If you are collecting sand that gets the runoff from a refinery, then I would stay away otherwise, with a very good rinse you will be fine.

Druu: Where do you think Home Depot gets the sand from- They dont grow it in a sterile lab, it comes from a sand pit somewhere.

Go 'harvest' your sand and save some money.

 

[oscarcrazy]

SURE! While, you're at it, see if you can get the neighborhood animals to urinate and defecate in it as well. Maybe rub it along the muffler of your car to get some nice pollutants in it. If need be, unzip and take a whiz in it yourself!

Anyone can tell that was sarcastic. Do not use the sand. It's likely contaminated with a wide range of things, only a few of which were listed above. Pathogens etc. If you're broke, sell your fish and buy clothes and food. You may not have a large fish budget, but that's different than being broke. 50 lbs for $3 at home depot. Are you willing to risk your fish for a few dollars value in sand?

Crap!!!! I better go change the substrate in my 180!!!


To the op. you should get it from home depot and rinse it well. You never know what is in the crap that has been hanging around outside.

 

[sncboom]

From a golf course? No, no telling what sort of chemicals have laced that sand.

 

[skiptomyzoo]

Druu: Where do you think Home Depot gets the sand from- They dont grow it in a sterile lab, it comes from a sand pit somewhere.

Go 'harvest' your sand and save some money.

And you don't think home depot at least somewhat checks for contaminants? It's PLAYsand, I'm sure they don't want kids playing in fertilzer runoff and dog piss.


Reguardless of what the OP decides, a good rinsing is required either way.

 

[Druu]

Druu: Where do you think Home Depot gets the sand from- They dont grow it in a sterile lab, it comes from a sand pit somewhere.

A quarry. Not by the side of a road where it's subject to runoff and pollutants off vehicles. Anyhow, bare bottom for me.

 

[Redchamp]

What about this type of sand?? Seen 100lbs or so around work but dont know what it is used for!

BS25 Black Sand from United Marketing

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

just get playsand, it is not expensive and doesn't have the same chance of runoff contamination.