sand from ocean

[corbett_n]

I live at the beach and have started a 30 gallon reef tank with a few small corals so far. I have crushed coral gravel and would like to have sand. Since, I live at the beach I would like to just go out and get some free surf sand. Is this a terrible idea, or can I pull it off without too many probelms?

 

[steri]

I really can't help you, but I always wondered the same thing myself. I would think sand from the beach already contains tons of the bacteria you would want in your tank as it's already in the ocean. I'll be curious as to what you are told.

 

[barbra]

It's a terrible idea. If you live in a really clean area, and have a penchant for gambling, you could go offshore a bit and drag some up from the bottom. The stuff on the beach though is just not suitable for a tank. It can (and will) have nearly anything in it. Even if you pick out all the cigarette butts and bottle caps there is all the stuff that washes ashore, etc. in there.

 

[dippin61]

bad, bad, bad idea... think of beaches, and their sand, as the skimmer of the ocean. You know all that foam that gathers on beaches... thats the oceans version of skimmate.

Now imagine, all the people, animals, and other garbage that makes it onto the beach. Oils, garbage, waste that will leach...

would you want to chance it?

it could be done, with intensive washing, and letting it sit in water for a while.. but its more trouble then its worth.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Also, depending on where you live, it could be illegal.

 

[Shagsbeard]

Bad idea all around. In order to use stuff from the wilds, like sand or water, you need to be willing to deal with all the unknowns that come with it. You could be picking up some nasty stuff usually held in check by the environment. I know that if I use California's colder water in my tank, as soon as I heat up the water to reef levels two things happen: stuff dies causing ammonia problems, and stuff grows explosively causing all sorts of trouble. If you have filtered water, or take water from a reef area, you are less affected by these changes.