Beach sand?

[osolow]

ok I know what people are going to say "it illegal" and it could be bad for the tank. I know! My best friend lives in a beach house and she said "I could have all the sand I wanted" (plus she is realy realy hot) I can not find southdown but my HD has yardright tropical play sand.Is that tha same as southdown? I just want to do a base for my LS. Can I get sand from the beach and clean it then dry it before I use it will it then be ok to use. or will the yardright tropical play sand be ok to use?
Thanks oSoLow

 

[fireeater]

The reason people get Southdown is the white color.
Playsand from HD is good to use and more convient to get, though it is yellowish in color. I have playsand in my refugium and it looks fine to me. It's not as yellow as I thought it would be.
The main reason people do not use beach sand is it could be contaminated with pollution.
I used about 3 cups of sand from my beach area just to seed my refugium. There are all kinds of critters in it.
The use of beach sand would be your choice, but if you have probs later on with your tank, ie: fish dieing, algea blooms and so forth, it could be the sand.
It is cheap enough just to get playsand and use that. It would most likely be the same color as beach sand and you know it would be pollutant free.
If you just need to have the white bright look, then research around for Southdown. There are some websites that sell it.
Like it has been said though, your tank - your choice and good luck.

 

[joez]

So how would you seed your sand with beach sand? How did you do it? Just gather sand in the water from the beach and pour into your tank?

 

[javatech]

The yardright tropical play sand is the same as Southdown get it

 

[osolow]

cool Thank You.
Thay had pallets of that at HD but I did not see anything abought
southdown on the bag. I will get that.
Thanks oSoLow

 

[fireeater]

I just walked out to the water when the waves went out some. Scooped some up with a cup before waves came back in. I kept it in an igloo (small one) with some water till I got home.

 

[joez]

and that had live critters in it? the beach is only afew miles from my house so I might try it later today.

 

[joez]

well I did it....went to the beach and got some sand. Has a bunch of stuff it seems...the water hasn't cleared up yet, but I can see all sorts of things. I also got some cocena (not sure on spelling...) in there too it seems. Is there anyway I can take care of these guys so they live?