Beach Sand

[rEvolution27]

I got some sand from the beach today and i want to add it to my tank... just wanted to know how to get all the salt out, howlong to soak out ect.

 

[clareriley]

If you look somewhere there is a thread about this already. i would advise against beach sand for your tank... im sure someone else can remember the reasons why.. i did google it all and found nothing on anyone ever using beach sand for a aquarium.

 

[SPLiSH]

Hi Evan.

Clare's right, beach sand is not for use in freshwater aquariums. You'll never be able to fully get rid of the salt and fragments that may upset your water. I know you live in the Caribbean (dunno if that's correct spelling, sorry) but the sand may still be polluted.

Do your fish a favour and get some play sand. It's cheap from landscaping and home improvement stores and it's cleaner.

 

[rEvolution27]

Hi Evan.

Clare's right, beach sand is not for use in freshwater aquariums. You'll never be able to fully get rid of the salt and fragments that may upset your water. I know you live in the Caribbean (dunno if that's correct spelling, sorry) but the sand may still be polluted.

Do your fish a favour and get some play sand. It's cheap from landscaping and home improvement stores and it's cleaner.

Lol well i guess that's a nono... it's just so nice and fine and soft. I have some more river sand, i'll add that instead, it's just hell to get all the silt out of it though

 

[clareriley]

Lol well i guess that's a nono... it's just so nice and fine and soft. I have some more river sand, i'll add that instead, it's just hell to get all the silt out of it though

Evan.. do you mean river sand from a river? if you do then that would be the same as the beach sand, you would have no idea whats in it.. the best thing to do is to get aquarium sand for the aquarium or what Splish said and get play sand and soak it.

 

[rEvolution27]

Lol well i guess that's a nono... it's just so nice and fine and soft. I have some more river sand, i'll add that instead, it's just hell to get all the silt out of it though

Evan.. do you mean river sand from a river? if you do then that would be the same as the beach sand, you would have no idea whats in it.. the best thing to do is to get aquarium sand for the aquarium or what Splish said and get play sand and soak it.

Well there's been some river sand in my aquarium for a while now and no problems... If you mean it might have fertilizers i doubt because i know the area it come from doesn't have any farms near it plus there are loads of fish in the rivers there that are doing fine so it can't be harmefull can it? Also the sand has been sitting outside my house for months now and i'm sure rain had washed out any bad stuff.

That's the only sand i can get unless it's sand that's used in makeing cement...

 

[clareriley]

Lol well i guess that's a nono... it's just so nice and fine and soft. I have some more river sand, i'll add that instead, it's just hell to get all the silt out of it though

Evan.. do you mean river sand from a river? if you do then that would be the same as the beach sand, you would have no idea whats in it.. the best thing to do is to get aquarium sand for the aquarium or what Splish said and get play sand and soak it.

Well there's been some river sand in my aquarium for a while now and no problems... If you mean it might have fertilizers i doubt because i know the area it come from doesn't have any farms near it plus there are loads of fish in the rivers there that are doing fine so it can't be harmefull can it? Also the sand has been sitting outside my house for months now and i'm sure rain had washed out any bad stuff.

That's the only sand i can get unless it's sand that's used in makeing cement...

oh yeah course the sand isnt harmfull to wild fish.. these fish you keep are not wild, they have been bread in captivity unless you are lucky enough to have them cought from the wild.. I just wouldnt chance it thats all. you dont know whats been in the river.. whats the matter with getting playsand or aquarium sand?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

mmmmm, bread

i would say that stuff from the river is alright to stick in the tank, as long as the river is clean. if you want to make sure that stuff is safe, just boil some water and pour it over the stuff you want to stick in your tank. ive heard that many people get driftwood and rocks from the river, so sand shouldnt be any worse right?

 

[clareriley]

mmmmm, bread

i would say that stuff from the river is alright to stick in the tank, as long as the river is clean. if you want to make sure that stuff is safe, just boil some water and pour it over the stuff you want to stick in your tank. ive heard that many people get driftwood and rocks from the river, so sand shouldnt be any worse right?

I never thought of it like that.. I still wouldnt chance it though.. if it was that safe then they wouldnt sell sand for tanks... but im in england so it might be totally different here..

 

[rEvolution27]

oh yeah course the sand isnt harmfull to wild fish.. these fish you keep are not wild, they have been bread in captivity unless you are lucky enough to have them cought from the wild.. I just wouldnt chance it thats all. you dont know whats been in the river.. whats the matter with getting playsand or aquarium sand?

well the problem with play or aquarium sand is that it isn't sold here
I'm gonna put it anyway though, i highly doubt that it's got anything bad, aslong as i boil it, give it a nice soak ect. It might even conatin good minerals for my plants
see i put a thin layer in my tank a few weeks ago to see how i'd like sand in there and all my fish have been fine..... anyway