OK to use Beach Sand ?

[mling]

I'm am a new to this marine aquatics. We have a beach house and I am considering using the sand from the beach in the new reef tank that I am planning to set up. The beach I am referring to is Bethany Beach, Delaware. Someone told me that sand from this area, compared to the Carribean, can cause Algea problems

Is this a good idea ? I was thinking that it would then have lots of micro organisms already it in, compared to the stuff you get at Petsmart. . Also, I was hoping to say that "This sand is from our beach !"

 

[Anonymous]

I would go to Home Depot and get Southdown sand. The sand at a beach where you live is most likely not calcium rich alk buffering sand. It is likely silica sand. Plus beach sand is usually loaded with organics deposited by the incoming waves. Then the runoff from roads, boats, and other trash usually end up there as well. Also the organisms from your temperate ocean may not survive the constant high temps of a reef tank. They may also survive and add things unsuitable to a reef tank.

 

[jandree22]

I agree... it MAY be perfectly fine, but I wouldn't take that chance. You don't wanna find out months from now that all your fish keep dying because the beach sand is leeching in toxins and pollutants from the ocean.

I agree, go to Home Depot and pick up a bag of Southdown. That's sure to be a helluva lot cleaner and calcium based. It'll cost ya a few bucks, but it's better than risking a reef tank!

BTW....

 

[Kevin1000]

I have used live ocean sand in my tanks for years - simply nothing better. I usually use a combination of natural live sand and store bought sand because lugging the wet sand is hard work. I periodically add a little ocean sand to keep up biodiversity.

The beaches I have collected my "live sand" from are not polluted and if yours is I would probably use caution and avoid.

Heres a post I just found on Dr. Rons forum over at reefcentral http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... did=340341

Hope this helps

 

[Anonymous]

You can buy any "tropical" play sand(there are a few others available sold at greenhouses and the like). A way to know if it really is "tropical" calcium based is too drop a pinch of sand into some vinegar. If it bubbles up it's the alkaline kind you want.

 

[shr00m]

i use beach sand and it works great if you actually collect it from the beach make sure wash it well, or get it from as far out as you can go.... after 6 months the sand was full of life, now there are so many worms and sand critters its not even funny! some people say blah blah only use aragonite and thats all well and good if you can find southdown,but if you cant beach sand is a fine alternative.

 

[jandree22]

do the vinegar test to make sure it's definately calcium based. if it bubbles your good. just rinse the hell outa it :wink:

 

[shr00m]

that isnt true, it doesnt have to be calcium based, most BEACH sand isnt... its about half and half.... i couldnt find aragonite anywhere but normal beach sand works great... it doesnt have to dissolve, my bed is full of life, i have no PH problems, if your water chemistry is good you dont need your substrate to act as a buffer.

 

[Kevin1000]

I agree with shr00m - beach sand here on the west coast is not calcium based but works fine. I mix a little aragonite in with mine to a little added protection but it is not necessary.

 

[Anonymous]

noob question - is that southdown stuff calcium based?

 

[shr00m]

aragonite sand so its calcium carbonate of course, and is the best choice if you can find it but if not normal beach sand works great.