Local collected sand VS store bought?

[hotelbravo]

Im wondering if beach sand is safe to use in a tank. I know people are going to say "don't take from the beaches keep the habitat intact. I am just asking out of curiosity if its even safe to use in an aquarium or is store bought sand the only safe way to go?

 

[username in use]

As long as it is clean it should be fine. Silica sand won't look "right" compared to aragonite sand, and it won't have the buffering abilities that aragonite does, but it is usable in the grand scheme of things.

 

[hotelbravo]

As long as it is clean it should be fine. Silica sand won't look "right" compared to aragonite sand, and it won't have the buffering abilities that aragonite does, but it is usable in the grand scheme of things.

how would I tell which kind of sand the beach has??

 

[woodnaquanut]

how would I tell which kind of sand the beach has??

Magnifying glass. Silica sand looks like glass, more or less. Aragonite looks more like coral skeleton - very white.

Chemical. Muriatic acid will foam LOTS with aragonite. It might foam some with silica sand if there is some aragonite or limestone mixed in.

If you are collecting in the Biloxi area, I don't believe there are coral reefs close by. Chance of aragonite is very low.

There is also the legal and possible pest issues. It would really suck to get busted for taking SAND! :eek2:

 

[hotelbravo]

no I wouldn't collect here the beaches are so dirty its horrible. im stationed here and ive once participated in a beach cleanup event and found so many disgusting things in this sand. However I am from florida so I was thinking of bringing back a bucket when I get home next. ive read the sand from there is made of quartz but I couldn't find any information on it being aragonite or silica

 

[jayball]

I believe FL has a no take rule on all sand and rock. Check their FWS website to be sure, it is a big fine.

 

[kylemm]

following

 

[sfsuphysics]

no I wouldn't collect here the beaches are so dirty its horrible.

Heheh, I was going to say going by your location are you sure you want beach sand... considering that "little" oil problem you had a few years back.

 

[Khemul]

I believe FL has a no take rule on all sand and rock. Check their FWS website to be sure, it is a big fine.

Rock (live rock, specifically), yes.

Sand gets tricky in Florida. It isn't so much an FWC thing as a local law enforcement thing. And it would depend heavily on the area whether anyone really cares.


As for safe, sure. Although how it'll look will very greatly depending on the exact area. It'll range anywhere from sugar-fine sand to something that looks rather suspiciously like a light brown version of pool filter sand.

 

[cody6766]

Sand is cheap compared to everything else. I'm pretty sure Gulf sand isn't what we're looking for in our reefs anyway. I also wouldn't want to bring in all of the extra stuff in the sand. Who knows if there are some remaints of street runoff, sea gull poop or dog (drunk college student) pee. It's cool to say "this is from home, I got it." but not cool to deal with potential issues from the sand bed, especially if they're not easily ID'ed as issues from the sand.

 

[mcgyvr]

The choice/risk is all yours..
Is it really worth it for a couple bucks?

Could be just fine.. Could be contaminated with fuel,etc...

 

[ajespo85]

Beaches are "PUBLIC" and are regulated just like a park. You can't go to a park and just dig up some dirt and take home, it's illegal. Same applies for sand on public beaches. Just trying so save you from some headache.

 

[hotelbravo]

k i wont do it, was just wondering.