live sand (dsb)

[reeflooker]

Does anyone know if play sand or builders sand that is available at Home Depot contains silica??? Is this a good substrate for live sand?? Also, I live about 5 minutes from the Atlantic ocean in Florida. Can I just scoop some offshore sand at the beach??

 

[nm reef]

Below is a link with info on play sand(silica sand)....and personally I would not use beach sand....way too much potential for contamination.
<a href="http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html" target="_blank">silica sand</a>

 

[reeflooker]

Thanks for the link. It seems that like aquarium lighting, people disagree about silica sand as well.
When you say contamination from beach sand, what kind of contamination are you talking about?? Would beach sand provide some bio diversity?? Where does "live" sand come from anyway??
Lets here some responses!!!! Thanks

 

[efrank]

Beach sand has peoples feet in it, oil from ships, dogs urine etc.
LS comes from reefs that are naturaly cleaned by waves and all the little things we keep in our tanks.

 

[reeflooker]

Thanks for the post EFRANK. Maybe your beach has poeple's feet, oil from ships, and dogs urine, etc but our beach is a little different. We have a real, live coral reef(that extends for miles) with-in a stones throw,ok, a shells skip, from shore. The beaches between Ft. Pierce and Vero and between Ft. Pierce and Jensen Beach are quite pristine.
If you told me that the beach sand is contaminated with decaying sargasium weed or other decaying fauna or floria, I could belive that. But feet and dogs urine... I don't think so.
Are there any better reasons that I should not use beach sand???? I read an article that Florida beach sand is too temperate(which I assume means too cold). Any truth to this??

 

[krusk]

swim out about 5-6' deep get sand from there
make sure you cure it first

 

[reeflooker]

thanks for the post.

 

[bobber]

I would not use beach sand. What Krusk had post is a better idea but still not avisable. The shores are natures protein skimmer. You would have to go out quite a ways to get pure LS for a tank. Think about the amount of water in the ocean compared to the size of your tank. Now add the contaminates from the sand=dead tank. Something to think about--Bob

 

[broomer5]

reeflooker
Man if I could stroll outside and get to a beach that is as clean as you say, and has a coral reef in proximity ..... I would do as Krusk said, grab my swim trunks and get my Northern Ohio butt out into the water pronto !
I'd go out and get me some wet sand from the bottom - not the dry beach stuff. Dredge up just the top 2-3 inches or so ... fill up a bucket of this sand and haul it inside. Pour a cup or so of it on a clear glass pie plate with a little of the seawater, place a good light underneath it, and start look'n for critters.
If I saw life in the sand - I'd use it in my tank.
If it was dead sterile looking with no lifeforms at all ... I would question it, wondering why.
Unless there is unusually high fishing boat traffic in the area, any industrial waste discharges nearby or know history of pollution in those waters .... chances are the sand is fine ... better than fine .. probably ideal !

 

[dirtybilge]

I beleave you can go to Home Depot and buy southdown sand that can be used for reefs.

 

[david s]

i been to ft pierce beutiful beach i didnt see any feet or oil slicks maybe dog prints hehe if i lived there i would use alot of stuff but i am new so ???? hehe <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[reeflooker]

Thanks for the post.

 

[adivedog]

If you can snorkle out around the reef and get some sand I would think that would be great to use. If your just setting up the tank and using live rock as well, the tank will cycle and you'll be able to tell how well the sand is doing for you. Keep us posted as I'd like to know if it works out for you.