skip the dry sand rinse?
- Thread starter Traill
- Start date
CStrickland
New member
Just getting the dust off. Sand is really dusty because of how it grinds against itself in the bag while it's getting jostled around during shipping etc. It's a nightmare if you don't rinse it off.
ok so I'll pay for it in time spent looking at a cloudy DT. I just don't understand why people fuss over the multiple rinses, whether to use RODI, etc. I'm looking at a large setup and am in no rush. If this is time spent with a hose and buckets vs. time spent waiting for particulate matter to settle, I'll take the latter. Just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something.
Bent
I got nothin'
Yeah man rinse that stuff. I just rinsed only 40lbs for my new tank and my entire driveway was covered.
Best thing to do is to get an old salt bucket, run a garden hose to the bottom, get a drill and a big paint stirrer.
Run the hose full wide open, put the paint stirrer in it and run it all until it's clear.
I use this:
Homax 69012 5-Gallon PolyPro Mixer/Galvanized Steel Rod https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ELORFY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_C7KgxbPZJ3KQ3
Best thing to do is to get an old salt bucket, run a garden hose to the bottom, get a drill and a big paint stirrer.
Run the hose full wide open, put the paint stirrer in it and run it all until it's clear.
I use this:
Homax 69012 5-Gallon PolyPro Mixer/Galvanized Steel Rod https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ELORFY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_C7KgxbPZJ3KQ3
fishinthewall
New member
If its something that a lot of people have spent a lot of time doing im gonna go out on a limb and say its probably for good reason.
Hitch08
New member
I'm not sure that it settles and never comes back. I have a combination of ocean sand and CaribSea sand. I rinsed the CaribSea, but the ocean sand came live from TBS. I didn't rinse it.
It is pretty easy for the ocean sand to end up floating around the DT. Last night I was cleaning the glass and hit the sand. It kicked up pretty good.
If I were you, I'd put what you have in a 5 gallon bucket and rinse with a garden hose until the water is relatively clear. If you have enough water pressure, the hose will move the sand around the bucket. It's not much work and I think you'll be glad that you did it.
EDIT: I must be slow today. What they said ^^^
It is pretty easy for the ocean sand to end up floating around the DT. Last night I was cleaning the glass and hit the sand. It kicked up pretty good.
If I were you, I'd put what you have in a 5 gallon bucket and rinse with a garden hose until the water is relatively clear. If you have enough water pressure, the hose will move the sand around the bucket. It's not much work and I think you'll be glad that you did it.
EDIT: I must be slow today. What they said ^^^
CStrickland
New member
If only it stayed settled. It's like dust in your house, sure it'll land on a surface eventually, but then someone walks by and poof! you're sneezing again. Also, if your tank flow is such that particles are landing on the floor and staying there, the water is too still - poop and food will land and fertilize algae.
SALTYwaterDOG
Member
I skipped the rinse on my first set up. After a couple of days it was clear as a bell. Then I got a couple of wrasse's and it was hardly ever crystal clear again until I replaced it with rinsed sand. I now rinse all sand befor it go's in
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
i used hose water and then did a final quick rinse in RODI.
the fines that you are rinsing off are a PITA in the display. they tend to clog filters, pumps, settle in rocks, etc..
really big pain that can be avoided by rinsing well.
billdogg
Well-known member
^^^What ALL OF THEM said^^^
x1,000
Here's how I do mine:
How to Clean Dry Sand
(without clogging the plumbing)
The method I use is as follows. It is very simple, wastes very little sand, and won’t clog the plumbing.
I clean sand in the utility sink, but any sink large enough to hold a 5g bucket will work. Cut a 6” piece of PVC to fit in the drain to act as a standpipe. You may have to sand a taper into the end of the PVC to get it to fit snugly. Put a 5g bucket in the sink, with standpipe in place. Pour about #10 of sand into the bucket and start filling it up with tap water. The faster, the better. While filling, stir the sand with another piece of PVC (1 ½ “ works well for me). Allow the bucket to overflow into the sink, carrying all the silt and whatnot into the sink, where the heavier particles (sand) will settle out before the wastewater, laden with silt, tops the standpipe and goes down the drain. Continue running the water until the bucket runs clear. . Now drain the bucket of as much water as you can, empty the (now) clean sand into another container (or your tank), and repeat the process until all your sand has been thoroughly washed. When you have finished, there will be several inches of sand in the bottom of the sink. Scoop it up into the bucket, give it another good rinse and you will be just about done. The final thing I do is plug the drain, allow the sink to fill as far as it can, then let it all drain away to give the silt still remaining in the pipes a good chance to be flushed away.
x1,000
Here's how I do mine:
How to Clean Dry Sand
(without clogging the plumbing)
The method I use is as follows. It is very simple, wastes very little sand, and won’t clog the plumbing.
I clean sand in the utility sink, but any sink large enough to hold a 5g bucket will work. Cut a 6” piece of PVC to fit in the drain to act as a standpipe. You may have to sand a taper into the end of the PVC to get it to fit snugly. Put a 5g bucket in the sink, with standpipe in place. Pour about #10 of sand into the bucket and start filling it up with tap water. The faster, the better. While filling, stir the sand with another piece of PVC (1 ½ “ works well for me). Allow the bucket to overflow into the sink, carrying all the silt and whatnot into the sink, where the heavier particles (sand) will settle out before the wastewater, laden with silt, tops the standpipe and goes down the drain. Continue running the water until the bucket runs clear. . Now drain the bucket of as much water as you can, empty the (now) clean sand into another container (or your tank), and repeat the process until all your sand has been thoroughly washed. When you have finished, there will be several inches of sand in the bottom of the sink. Scoop it up into the bucket, give it another good rinse and you will be just about done. The final thing I do is plug the drain, allow the sink to fill as far as it can, then let it all drain away to give the silt still remaining in the pipes a good chance to be flushed away.
DrPheel
New member
+ 1 on rinsing sand , I like to do a little bit at a time in a small bucket , just run water in it and swoosh it around and dump dirty water until you get it crystal clear. I did from the start on both my tanks since I was warned by reefing buddies :beachbum:
Some people like to do it in a big bucket and let it sit for a bit but I think the small amount at a time is more work but less time at the end ! as long as you do it you will not regret the extra time you took !
Some people like to do it in a big bucket and let it sit for a bit but I think the small amount at a time is more work but less time at the end ! as long as you do it you will not regret the extra time you took !
This!!!!
StrangeDejavu
Member
I didn't rinse mine, I just turned on the pumps as high as they'd go and caught it in a sump sock. Be prepared to lose that sump sock if you do this. I hate rinsing sand so it was a fair trade for me. Even after I ran it in the washing machine and blasted it with the hose, it's still clogged and discolored with sediment.
CStrickland
New member
Lol I first read that as you using the washing machine to rinse your sand. At first I was like "that's genius!" But then I was like "wait, no, its the opposite"
Hehehe
@op I think they can't rinse all the dust off cause it makes its own dust in the bag from friction. But if you invent a way I'll be your customer for life!
