fishcrazzy Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 is it possible to use sand from the sea in an aquarium? would it contain to much salt? how much would you have to wash it? boil it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deno Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 why would you want to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Yes, you can. Salt will be negligable and totally gone if you rinse it to get any dust out. Boiling it would be a waste of time and electricity, there's no need. And Deno, you'd want to because it looks nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 I don't see why you couldn't use it. If it contains shells it would raise the ph, salt should be easily washed out probably no need to boil it if its from the sea any freshwater nasties will be dead, just rinse out the salt. I guess some sands are also iron based so they might not be ideal.. You would need to grade it somehow to make sure you got rid of the really fine stuff or your tank will always be murky and filters filled with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 It can be good looking stuff. The small amount of shell in some times can be of benefit when growing plants that like a bit of calcium and non acid water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I would suggest collecting a smallish amount first, then bring it home and play with it before committing to put it in your tank. Treat it however you intend to treat it before you add it to your tank - rinse it or whatever. Then put it in a bucket (or spare tank) with some water. Measure the pH of the water after a few days and see how much it has changed (different sands will have different amounts of crushed shell).Stir the water with your hand and see how murky it gets. Can you live with that in your tank if the fish stir it up?Observe how it looks under your tank lights. It's much easier to change your mind during an experimental phase than it will be after you're set up your whole tank with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob1066 Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Hi I use sea sand in my malawi cichlid tanks All i do is rinse it till the water runs clear The fish seam to like it,and i haven't had any problems with them It also looks nice in the tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 If I use local sand I have to collect it from well above the tide line otherwise there is way too much shell in it (good for Africans though) and the pH goes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcrazzy Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 thanks for all the help!! ive set up a tank last nite with sand in it that i washed out, its stiil a bit cloudy this morning, am going to get the filter running today and do a few syphons of the sand with my gravel cleaner to try clean it up a bit more...and do a few water tests before i put any fish in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 where can i get white sand that is safe for a tropical tank? and can i plant hair grasses in it? and how do i get the gunk out of it, cant really siphon it can i. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 where can i get white sand that is safe for a tropical tank? and can i plant hair grasses in it? and how do i get the gunk out of it, cant really siphon it can i. thanks Hold the syphon above the sand, the crap tends to sit on the top because it can't fall between the grains. If you're worried about loosing lots of sand, top of and rinse what's in your bucket a few times, and just put the sand back in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 where can i get white sand that is safe for a tropical tank? and can i plant hair grasses in it? and how do i get the gunk out of it, cant really siphon it can i. thanks That would be Silca Sand you're after, you can get it from placemakers we paid $29 for a 25kg bag. As for cleaning it, like Imsmith said - but I find just using the siphon hose with out the vac tube easier just hold it slightly above the sand. Also you have to turn it over I do this once a week, sand gets toxin spots also alot of crap gets under the sand. Plants do grow in it - however cause you've got to turn the sand I find planting plants in pots easier as I can move them. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 and how do i get the gunk out of it, cant really siphon it can i. Here's a short vid that demonstrates the technique.... http://www.cichlid-forum.com/videos/cleaning_sand.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Mel what do you meant planting in pots??what about getting a fish that sifts the sand would the help with turning it?? can i out that silca sand in with Bettas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 that vid was cool im going to get some sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 are bettas okay with the silca sand?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Bettas don't care a bit if you have sand, gravel or nothing at all on the bottom of the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu :) Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 If you want to reduce the iron content (if any) in your sand, I buy a set of play magnets from a $2 store and drop them in bucket with the sand. Shake the bucket side to side, remove magnets which should be covered in a fine-medium black grit and a quick wash off using a 'blast' of water from a tap and repeat. Also using rear earth magnet in a small plastic zip lock works too. Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 I actually want to put sand in my up coming project of starting up my own community tank. Cleaning it is easy and much quicker to maintain than gravel or stones, I have found. So yes! You can put it in your tank. Many fish experts around the globe do it. Just be sure before you do put the sand in your tank that you actually like it like that. Not only for appearance but for fish comfort. Like many others have stated, be sure to clean it well before hand and you won't need to boil it. Saltwater would have killed anything nasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 im going to get silca sand for my females bettas will be so awesome. ive seen some tanks with plants in the sand, how do you clean the sand when its all planted out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 im going to get silca sand for my females bettas will be so awesome. ive seen some tanks with plants in the sand, how do you clean the sand when its all planted out Try looking at the video that was posted on the first page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 i saw the video , but it showed cleaning tanks that were not planted out. how do you get to the sand if you have dwarf sag or hair grass covering it. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 Short answer is you don't, and the plants will love you for it. Just siphon the the worst of the gung off the top now and again. You would not expect a pot plant to grow well in a pot of pre washed gravel or sand with nothing to feed on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbreeder Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 i was just worried about the gas that builds up to dangerous levels in the sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megs27 Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I have set my 300lt tank up with Daltons aquatic plant mix and Daltons washed sand on top and it's good to buy pre washed sand because it saves you alot of mucking around, it took a couple of days to clear but my plants and fish (Discus, blue ram and guppies) love it, it makes the tank look nice and clean. I had some advice of getting maylasian trumpet snails to help airate the sand so it wont go green so some of them are hanging around in the bottom now to which I brought off trade me from a boy doing some fund raising for a school trip to Aussie. So long story short sand is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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