reusing sand for new DSB

[sherman]

I just moved offices and had to move my 40 gal reef tank.

I had already set up a new tank with new crushed coral sand in my new office and just moved everything over to the new tank.

I have the sand from the old tank (filled with years of muck). Is there any value in saving and "cleaning" (say with clean salt water) the old sand and transferring it over to the new tank? Would you consider this live sand? Or with the years of detritus all stirred up with the move, better to just chuck it?

 

[davocean]

I wouldn't use sand that old.
Also, crushed coral isn't the first choice, nitrate sink.

 

[FishNutzBoi]

I reused 100pounds of LR from my 75G in my 110G. All I did was putting it all in a big bucket and let water run til it's clear. Stir it up often. The LS won't be live anymore but at least you don't have to buy 100pounds of sand

 

[mg426]

I would rinse it mighty well.

 

[Donkin]

I really don't think you will havce a problem re-using the sand. Even without prep. The detritus in the sand will eventually be eaten by the worms in the sand. The only thing is you will have to "cycle" the tank and let ot sit for maybe another month or two. I have used this method 3 times. From my 110 to my 120 and from my 120 to my new 50. I know that a great amount of detritus is harmful and will result in higher toxins in the tank, but given a longer amount of time to let your critters do their job you should be fine. I always moniter the perameters closley before adding anything I would like to keep.

 

[carib]

reuse-was my bigiest mistake,dont even consider.

 

[namdrib2]

I just recently upgraded and moved (only a mile down the road) and reused every grain of live sand from my old 75 into my new 120 and did not have to recycle the tank. The trick was to keep the sand wet and aerated. I added 90 pounsd of new sand to the tank first then added the other 95 pounds of old sand on top. I ran a Vortex XL for about an hour to clean to free floating silt from the water. This happened in mid July of this year after the 75 was running for about eight months w/o ever having cleaned the gravel. The tank did not need to recycle, coraline algae was growing on the new tank within two weeks and I did not lose any livestock.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

The main problem with using sand is that it will have phosphate bound to it. That can release over time back to the tank. Its generally a good idea to get new because of that.

The other thing is the fact that organisms will die in it that are exposed to fresh water and rapid temp swings. That could also result in an increase of the organic content. Resulitng in an increase of nitrates and phoshpates.

 

[Donkin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8255181#post8255181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boxfishpooalot
The other thing is the fact that organisms will die in it that are exposed to fresh water and rapid temp swings. That could also result in an increase of the organic content. Resulitng in an increase of nitrates and phoshpates.

I do agree that there will be more of there negative elements in the tank. But with a longer period of time before adding any coral and plenty of water changes this should not prove a problem in the long run. I did add a fuge with lots of cheato to help with this prob as well. SO far I have not had any problems other then a algea bloom, but thats normal. I will not put any corals in my tank for another month or two though just to be safe. Re-using sand in my opinion is not a problem, just a little extra work and patience.

 

[Donkin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8254729#post8254729 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carib
reuse-was my bigiest mistake,dont even consider.

Carib, what happend after reusing your sand? I know that problems can occur if extra precation isn't taken. I am just wondering what effects reuse had on your tank? I never had a prob, still have the same sand that I have had from my first reef (some mixed out over the years).