I'm near the beach....

[ginger7286]

I want to change the sand only reef tank's refug. I was hoping to use beach sand and all the natural bioload within it. Does anyone see a problem with the sand that I don't.

 

[Anemonebuff]

Get the sand from s deeper source. The beach is where all the crap washes up. It is like the protein skimmer of the ocean.

 

[Katmanblue]

check this out:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080113105211AAJgo2g

 

[Katmanblue]

I just noticed we're neighbors LOL. Nice weather today huh? Dont go get your sand today, too much lightning.

 

[down and outman]

My mom gave me some sand from the beach. I put some in my 1st tank. What a mess!!! Algae and all kinds of crap. Never again.

 

[lmsmith]

In NZ, we use water and sand and rocks etc from the beach. Collect it where the water is over 1m deep at low tide, and always collect on an incoming tide, at least 3 days after rain to prevent you getting any of the runoff from the land.

 

[muddysr5]

I've heard of other people in FL collecting sand from beaches as well as saltwater. It was somewhere in this forum and they just kept reiterating that you have to be acutely aware of tides and currents. There was mention of the deeper the waters come from the cleaner the water...if I remember correctly

 

[vowelmovements]

I'm on the gulfcoast and waded out in the middle of winter (Florida winter, yes, ok) to collect sand, rock, etc. Used it all to build a 10 gallon tank that didn't have any major issues, I would be a bit more skeptical on a larger system, especially one holding any precious corals.

Points brought up to me- chemical runoff or spill present near beaches, introduction of a world of possible pests, legal issue of collecting sand or creatures from state or city parks.

 

[ginger7286]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. Always learning.....

 

[canesfins]

I am in the Bahamas, but collected sand from the beach at low tide in the water. No problem.

 

[budlight12221]

What about the sand crabs?? Reef Safe??