Reef tank substrate

[icecube]

Is it safe to use sand collected from the beach for a reef tank or should i collect it from the reefs?

 

[Max]

From the beach maybe not there are usually chemical pollutants, sun tan oils etc. in the sand. If you do get it from the reef go out a way so that you can avoid any of the above mentioned hazards. I've always just used plain coraline sand and let it become live sand over time.

 

[charlesr1958]

If you can collect the sand from areas that do not get exposed to air at low tide, that would of course be your best option. The sand on the beach is dead and most likely contains a great deal of waste / garbage. Such sand will not become live in your tank, it will get some bacterial biofilms, but will be devoid of any sand infauna that mades live sand....live.

Reef Collecting

Chuck