Washing Sand

[Grant1897]

Hi guys. I just got my first fish tank today which is a juwel rio 180 I've been reading as much as I can over the
Last couple of weeks but washing sand is still confusing me. I plan on using play sand as I'm on a pretty tight budget at the moment. I've read that sand needs to be washed before adding it to the tank. How exactly is this done? What exactly am I aiming to remove by washing it? Many thanks in advance. Grant.

 

[Spurry]

put a bit in a bucket ad water swish it around it will look like blackpool sea front and froth up keep washing it till the water goes clear and the sand sinks to the bottom of the bucket...

 

[Grant1897]

put a bit in a bucket ad water swish it around it will look like blackpool sea front and froth up keep washing it till the water goes clear and the sand sinks to the bottom of the bucket...

So when I think im at the seaside do I drain the water? Then add fresh water? And repeat till it doesn't cloud up?

 

[Spurry]

Yep.....

 

[Grant1897]

Yep.....

Thanks very much for the help mate

 

[Spurry]

Np's I would was about the same as 5 or 6 bags of sugar at a time
Don't wash too much in one go

I no it will take along time sorry about that, but you will be happy with clear water

 

[Grant1897]

Np's I would was about the same as 5 or 6 bags of sugar at a time
Don't wash too much in one go

I no it will take along time sorry about that, but you will be happy with clear water

Thanks again mate. I'm not worried how long it takes in all honesty. I just want to make sure I do everything as well as possible. Don't want the little fishes getting poorly because I've rushed somthing.

 

[OldMan47]

Washing sand is as easy as can be. Just take a sample into a small bucket and start by using a good flow of water through a hose. I rinse my sand and let it overflow a bucket. When the water in the bucket shows clear water, I figure the sample of sand in the bucket is clean enough. I dump that sand into my tank and start again with a new sand sample. Repeat as needed to fill the tank to the desired level with sand. Don't forget to run your hand through the sand while you are flushing a bucket of sand. You don't want to call a bucket of sand done when it simply reflects the fact that you have not stirred things with your hand. Note that I lose about 10 to 15% of the sand from almost every bucket but I never have any trouble with sand that won't settle right in my tank.