Re-using sand...

[iwantzoas]

If you take sand out of a tank can u boil it and put it into another tank that needs sand? Im settin up a tank and need some sand so I was wondering if this would be ok?

 

[princesuhaib]

why would u boil it? you don't want to kill the bacteria that's on it

 

[iwantzoas]

Don't nitrates/nitrites get trapped in the sand? And if you stir it up and put it in a new tank won't it come out and cause a big problem?

 

[princesuhaib]

u will also be killing the bacteria that you need to help cycle the tank. how much sand do you plan on laying down in your new tank? if you were going to boil it and kill everything off, what would u use to seed the sand?

 

[aerius007]

Sand traps a ton of bad stuff, if it gets stirred around and released at one time you can easily crash the tank. So if you took it out and put it into a tank all of that bad stuff would be in the water. When I reused sand I just rinsed it really well.

 

[Ohiomom]

rinse, rinse and rinse some more..but I used old sand without issue.

 

[iwantzoas]

Thanks for the info guys, that's what I thought!! Ill keep a few cups to seed the new tank..