Reuse old sand?
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Steven Pro
New member
I would replace it. Everything that was once alive is now dead making the sand loaded with nutrients.
Agu
Premium Member
I recycle old sand successfully............
Run the waste from your RO/DI ( I do this so I'm not wasting water, a rinse with tap water would work as well ) into a bucket half full of old sand. Stir often and pour off any crud the rises. Do this until there's minimal crud.
Completely dry the sand. IME it's important that the sand is completely dry so any organics aren't water logged.
Repeat step one. You'll be surprised at the amount of stuff that will float to the surface.
Do a final rinse in RO/DI. Because RO/DI is so pure it will bond with other chemicals in the sand, (this is conjecture and not backed up with scientific fact).
You can use it immediately or dry it out for future use.
Run the waste from your RO/DI ( I do this so I'm not wasting water, a rinse with tap water would work as well ) into a bucket half full of old sand. Stir often and pour off any crud the rises. Do this until there's minimal crud.
Completely dry the sand. IME it's important that the sand is completely dry so any organics aren't water logged.
Repeat step one. You'll be surprised at the amount of stuff that will float to the surface.
Do a final rinse in RO/DI. Because RO/DI is so pure it will bond with other chemicals in the sand, (this is conjecture and not backed up with scientific fact).
You can use it immediately or dry it out for future use.
Cody Ray
New member
The only problem is that phosphates bind to the sand and a swing in pH can cause them to unbind (a pH drop will cause sand to dissolve and release the phosphates). I would recommend using new sand along with the old so that if any phosphates are released they can bind to the newer sediment.
ratboy
New member
I recycle almost all my sand when I move tanks or upgrade and some of the sand in my 400 gallon is probably 10+ years old (I used the plenum method for years when I started). I'll usually give it a good rinse but I dont use RO/DI, I just use the old water from my tank to get most of the muck out of it. After I get the new tank setup I'll run some filter floss for a few days to pull out more junk. Sand isnt cheap and since Ive never had any problems from reusing it Im sure not gonna throw it out!
graveyardworm
Premium Member
I reuse my old sand, I use a couple pieces of fiberglass screen and rinse it thoroughly with the garden hose. No problems so far. If youre having problems with tha sand dissolving and releasing bound phosphates then everything in your tank is probably dead from the low PH.
donald altman
New member
would baking the sand help...
I have some old sand in a tank that has pretty much just been sitting in the garage for a year that is has about 4 to 5 inches of southdown mixed with oolitic sand. I was wondering if I put in a baking dish could I pop it in the oven and cook all the crap out of it... to make it sterile?
I have some old sand in a tank that has pretty much just been sitting in the garage for a year that is has about 4 to 5 inches of southdown mixed with oolitic sand. I was wondering if I put in a baking dish could I pop it in the oven and cook all the crap out of it... to make it sterile?
graveyardworm
Premium Member
Bleach and then dechlorinator would have the same end result with less energy usage.
