Ok I've got my 4 footer all ready, sitting on it's makeshift stand. I went out today and bought sand and rocks and have been washing the sand under the tap. I haven't quite made it threw one bag and have decided there must be a better way. I'm using the finest mesh fish net I have found and I'm still loosing quite a bit of sand (river sand). So I've come to you fine folks hoping someone out there has the answer. I do already have one "pot on the boil" and hopefully will be put in after T.

To get the dust etc out of it. I fill a bucket with about 1/3rd sand and jet water from a hose into till it runs clear.Carry on till all the sand or gravelis clean.

I then use a BIG preserving pot and boil it on the stove, from there it goes outside again to get another wash from the cold water which also cools it, then into storage ready for use.

Alan 104

so no using the net then? Great that means I'll keep most of my sand. Thanks so much for that.

I had seen about baking it but I don't have to many roasting dishes anymore and it's to hot to run the oven today. Figured I'd just use my big preserving pot.

Just to throw a spanner in the works. I use river sand and put it through a kitchen seive. Carefully wash the larger sand but leave the silt in the rest and put it all in your tank (I dont wash or boil) Place the washed gravel on top and it holds down the silt. With the addition of micronutrient to the bottom layer you should get good plant growth. If you fill the water into a jug on a large dinner plate it should not get stirred up.