How to wash quikrete play sand?

[connorlindeman22 22]

So I finally found quikrete play sand and now I'm wondering how to clean prior to adding to the tank? How many times should I rinse it? I cant seem to find another thread on this topic so I'm sorry if someone already asked this.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Rinse in buckets outdoors, until the water runs clean, then add to your tank

I've used the Quikrete PFS, not the play sand, and didn't even rinse it...water in the tank cleared in a few days

 

[ember04]

Ok, I had this with my pond, I added a large amount of sand to the bottom and had to wash it all. what i did and a way that works really well is dump some of your sand in to a bucket (I recommend doing it in stages in order to not over flow the bucket). once you have some sand in the bucket put a garder hose in to teh bucket, then keep teh hose of until teh water that runs off is clear. that will mean it is all clear for you
hop that helps
ember

 

[connorlindeman22 22]

Rinse in buckets outdoors, until the water runs clean, then add to your tank

I've used the Quikrete PFS, not the play sand, and didn't even rinse it...water in the tank cleared in a few days

thanks. I'll have to try to do it inside because we have 6 inches of snow outside and it's 15 degrees.

 

[Slaphppy7]

thanks. I'll have to try to do it inside because we have 6 inches of snow outside and it's 15 degrees.

Do it in the bathtub...

 

[ember04]

you can also do it in a fine food grade sive and a bowl but it will take longer

 

[Byron]

I rinse it in a bucket in the laundry sink (when I had this in the former house), or now in the downstairs bath tub. If you are careful you will not have sand going down the drain. In a 3 gallon bucket I put 4 or at most 5 cups of sand, then run the tap (warm and cold or your hand will get very cold) into the bucket and swirl the sand around with your hand, then gently tip the bucket and the sand will sink back down while the dirt/dust is dumped out. I repeat this 4 or 5 times; the water is certainly not clear by then, but that doesn't matter. There is only so much water I want to waste.

Dump the sand into the tank, then when you have what you want, do the hardscaping. You can add a few inches of water to enable you to plant--you won't be able to see through the water but that is OK. When finished drain out all the water right down to the sand. Then fill the tank using a large bowl into which the water stream is directed, this will avoid stirring up much of the sand.

 

[connorlindeman22 22]

I rinse it in a bucket in the laundry sink (when I had this in the former house), or now in the downstairs bath tub. If you are careful you will not have sand going down the drain. In a 3 gallon bucket I put 4 or at most 5 cups of sand, then run the tap (warm and cold or your hand will get very cold) into the bucket and swirl the sand around with your hand, then gently tip the bucket and the sand will sink back down while the dirt/dust is dumped out. I repeat this 4 or 5 times; the water is certainly not clear by then, but that doesn't matter. There is only so much water I want to waste.

Dump the sand into the tank, then when you have what you want, do the hardscaping. You can add a few inches of water to enable you to plant--you won't be able to see through the water but that is OK. When finished drain out all the water right down to the sand. Then fill the tank using a large bowl into which the water stream is directed, this will avoid stirring up much of the sand.

thanks Bryon and everyone. I'm starting now!

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Lots of experiences here and late by ten minutes it seems, but I used a blend of a few methods here. I detached the head of the shower hose, and injected lukewarm water into a bucket half-way full of sand, swirling it around with my hands until it was completely clean. Took sooo much less time than basic aquarium substrates, all around a pleasant experience as far as the heavy-duty parts on aquarium scaping goes.

 

[connorlindeman22 22]

So there it is. Took me about 4 hours but I think it was worth it. The fish are all currently in a 10 gallon tank. I switched the filter and the heater back over to the main tank.

The water is dechlorinated and at the right temp. How long till I can re-add the fish?

Should I wait a bit or just put them back in?

 

[Byron]

As you kept the filter "dirty" (presumably), nd with the plants (though so far minimal), these two things should allow you to move the fish over. Monitor ammonia/nitrite if you have tests.

 

[connorlindeman22 22]

As you kept the filter "dirty" (presumably), nd with the plants (though so far minimal), these two things should allow you to move the fish over. Monitor ammonia/nitrite if you have tests

Ok thanks again for your help.