Opened bag of sand, smelled like mildew!

[Fishdisease]

Hey Everyone,

Bought a bag of sand a few years back and had it stored in my garage, unopened. I opened it up today to rinse it and add it to a new tank and it had a slight smell of mold/mildew. Its the CaribSea Aragonite Aragamax Oolite Aquarium Substrate (not the wet sand or the alive sand, just plain old dry sand).

To be honest I'm only slightly concerned as through rinsing most of the smell dissipated, but it's still there a bit and more importantly, how does dry sand mildew? It was still super dry when I poured it out. I thought i'd seek the wisdom of the internets.

Cheers

 

[Pslreefer]

Bleach, rinse, let it dry in the sun, good to go!


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[SRQreef3r]

i believe you could also boil it to sterilize it

 

[avery155]

If the garage was not climate control it may bepossible the hot cold cycles caused condensation in the bag over the time.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

If the garage was not climate control it may bepossible the hot cold cycles caused condensation in the bag over the time.

That is quite possible.

 

[homer1475]

If the garage was not climate control it may bepossible the hot cold cycles caused condensation in the bag over the time.

I was just thinking the same thing. Bleach, rinse, let dry, use.

 

[Fishdisease]

Yup, I'm in Eastern Canada so there are definitely temp swings seasonally (it's a balmy 29F here today). I'll go the bleach route, too cold outside to stand around and boil it, basement is finished so it's warm and can dry the sand. Thanks!