Using sand from a local lake

[Zander_The_RBP]

i used sand from the lake at my cottage for my 150 gallon tank you dont need to do much to sterilize it i figure the chlorine/chloramine in tap water would get all the nasties i just rinsed it real well in a big tub with the garden hose and put it in my tank no issues so far


the lake is spring fed so its very pure no limestone or anything bad in the sand just very high in iron

 

[Toby_H]

Rinsing it would be a bare minimum...

Baking/Boiling would add the benefit of killing any parasites or anything else living that didn't come out in the wash...

Let the Original Poster of the thread decide if he wishes to take the slight risk of parasitic infection or accept the slight inconvenience of sitting on the couch with a pan in the oven for 30 minutes...

The risk is low as is the inconvenience... but neither one is ours... so instead offer the education and let the man decide for himself...

 

[justonemoretank]

I've never baked pond sand, but I'm guessing it would add an interesting odor to one's home.

 

[the_deeb]

I believe the OP said:

if im doin that it will take days.`,..what bout filln a tub with hotttt water.

To me that was an indication that he thought that baking it would be inconvenient. I was just reassuring him that IMHO the plan didn't need to be abandoned and that washing with hot water should be enough.

NC_nutcase: you promote eduction and I agree 100%. It just seems to me that a lot of people seem to dish out advice with no real basis for it (I imagine you started your bio filtration thread for exactly that reason). In the case of this thread, for those of you advocating baking please let him know specifically:

What parasites (ie. what species) are likely to be found in dry sand by lake Tahoe and what threat they would pose in a tropical aquarium?

What heat labile chemicals are likely to be found in dry sand by lake Tahoe and what risk they would pose in an aquarium?

I personally could not think of any (though I'm sure I could be wrong), which is why I didn't suggest baking.

 

[gangster]

thanks guys,,..im gonna bake it to play it safe.....itd be dumb not to and killl off hundreds of dollars of fish...

 

[Dustonthecabnit]

I've never baked pond sand, but I'm guessing it would add an interesting odor to one's home.

im guessing he already has an interesting odor in his home.

 

[fishy12]

Are u tryin to tell him to make glass by baking it lol.

 

[Freshwater Tim]

thanks guys,,..im gonna bake it to play it safe.....itd be dumb not to and killl off hundreds of dollars of fish...

Done yet??

Post some pics !!!!

 

[kdrun76]

An alternative to baking it could be to use a dilute bleach soak. Then rinse like crazy and use a LOT of dechlorinator on initial set up... but baking is better.

 

[gangster]

Havent set it up yet...still gotta collect and haul the sand...waiting till after this busy labor day weekend. Then I'll start collecting...wont start cookin the sand until the house needs to be heated. Thanks for all the help. I'll post photo's once its done.