Reuse old sand?

[Agu]

I don't see where heating the sand would remove any pollutants in the sand , it'll just make it hot for a while. Sun drying will have the same effect. Same thing with bleach and dechlorinator, the pollutants are still there.




In any case you'll end up with sterile organics that still need to be physically removed from the sand.


jmo,

 

[graveyardworm]

For all the conjecture here, mine included, has anyone besides me actually recycled used sand and used it long term in a new tank ?

What do you consider long term? I have my 90 gal reef running rinsed sand and a plenum for about two years now with no problems, and I have a 100 gal which has a mix of used and new and has been running about 8 months. The 100 gal is definately not long term, but it does have the healthiest sand bed so far.

 

[exoticaquatix]

not sure if my re-used sand has anything to do with my problem but after i moved my tank (1 year old) i am experiencing my first cyano out break ever. i rinsed the sand with tap water while still in the tank until the water ran clear. i then moved it into buckets, moved the tank, put the sand back in the tank, rinsed it again, then filled the tank with saltwater. i put more time and water into it that i thought was needed and now im having algae problems. go figure.
im still toying with the idea of using this sand again in my up coming upgrade to a 120 mixed with cheap home depot sand (if its deemed safe) so im not totally convinced its the old sands fault. just an observation.
-nick
-nick