Get my own sand

[cgr]

I live in South Florida near the beach. Is it safe to get my own sand and use it in my tank? When live sand is advertised, it often says that it is straight from the Florida Keys. What is the difference? Is there some process that they follow after collecting the sand?

 

[ocellaris_keeper]

You could use this sand but remember there are a lot of people, boats and industry right there - When they talk about Florida Keys Live sand they usually get the sand about 1-3 miles off shore.
I have heard of many folks on this site using beach sand sucessfully - just be aware of the pollutants mentioned above.
You might want to take the sand from the beach and boil it/sift it/bleach it for your base sand and get about 40lbs of Live Sand to put on top.
That would be real cheap.

 

[nybyrne]

Redcorsair,
Where did you get your info about the removal of beach sand being against the law? I have done searches on it but can not find anything. I found where it says you can take sand from the dune line(That FEMA establishes) but I have found no written law about anything else. Please inform me where I can get a copy of this or what agency enforces it. Thanks

 

[aftrhrs]

I am interested in this as well. If I plan a trip to Florida and go 50 yards out in the ocean and dive down and get some sand, then I am breaking a law? Where can I find more information on this?

 

[kev]

I got a bunch of LS while I was in Destin, Fl. I got it right behind a hotel and its been in my tnk for a year now. I kept it wet the whole way back to texas and my tank has been good ever since.

 

[prater]

Florida Conservation Department
375.314 Damage to public lands.
http://www.floridaconservation.org/codebook/375b.pdf
That is probably the one they get you with, even though it does not seem to be anything related. I also read alot about disturbing the sand area just off the shore where lots of food reside for gamefish.