This may be a stupid question

[oregonbud]

Hi everyone, another newbie question for you all - I have not seen this addressed on the boards and figured I would ask it.
Currently I have a 55 g s/w FO tank - I am in the process of changing the cc substrate to a DSB as well as adding some base rock and live rock - I have been doing some research on the southdown sand and seeding it with live sand for my DSB, however southdown is pretty hard to come by where I live, so I was talking to my wife and she asked me why don't I just go over to the coast, make a dive trip and bring back 50-60lbs of sand from the ocean floor - my first question would be is this a good idea or bad idea? And secondly does anyone know if it is legal to harvest sand from the ocean floor?
I know LR is not legal to harvest anymore (and dont think the LR off the oregon coast would be anything I would want) but did not know the status of gathering sand. If no one knows the answer here any ideas on where to find the answer? I have tried some of the state sites in regards to ocean gathering but have not found anything that addresses my specific question.
Thanks again

 

[fulcrum]

Hey Oregon-
From everything I have read on this site, using live sand from the ocean would be a very bad idea. The proximity to shore aparently allows for contamination and presence of bacteria that would be bad for your fish.
I also believe that laws vary from state to state, but you are right to concerned about breaking the law. It very well could be a problem.
Look into using 100% silica playsand (only if it is washed and sterilized) seeded with live aragonite sand.
This may provide you the cost saving measure you need.

 

[cboyfan2020]

Most companies(very few) that get their sand from the ocean go out about 100yards or so and get it from there but I would be curious as to the pollutants and such if any you would find in it. You dont have to get southdown. 100% silica sand would work also and you can sometimes find it in white. i live in Kansas so I am not to familiar with laws pertaining to ocean collecting for obvious reasons but I would be curious to know as well. I know this didnt help much but I thought I would chime in.

 

[eeldarb21]

i really don't know if it's illegal, but i think it is. I know that is not a good idea. Generally i found a lot of people asking this question, and i think it's all the same answer, if you go and get sand off your coastline it will contain a lot of poulutants, boat fuel, and exhaust fuems and waste. I really don't think you would want this in your tank. Ask your home depot to order you some southdown. I got some sand box playsand (same thing) at Lowes. then just seed it with some live sand from your lfs....
hope this helps

 

[skierguy]

eeldarb21
I have also been looking into the cc to dsb switch. I was wondering if the sand you found at Lowes silica or other? Home Depot can not order the Southdown here in CA because it comes from a different reigon. The sku is the same the product is different.

 

[cboyfan2020]

All sand at HD is under the same SKU#. i recall in the classifieds section that there was some SD in Cali. But I think it was on another board.

 

[treg]

You might also look into *Delete* It is about $28 for 40 lbs shipped to your house.
Not quit as cheap as SD sand but easier to get and possibly better? I am new to the hobby so I cannot answer that question.
I started my tank 3 weeks ago today and was not able to locate south down in a timely manner so I used NATURE'S OCEAN BIO-ACTIV ARAGONITE- -LIVE SAND- from this site with Natures Ocean Aragonite, for a base, that I was able to find at a LFS (jacks aquarium) @ $20 per 20 lb bag. Jacks also had the Natures Ocean Live Sand for $30 per 20 lb bag. I was glad they did becase the 40 lbs I bought from SWF didnt go far!
Again not as cheap as using SD but the exta $100 was worth it to me knowing I was using the right stuff. It looks GREAT in the tank too!
Good luck in your search for SD.

 

[jukis47]

It would be a bad idea because it could have ammona and other deadly bacteria in it that can kill fish and other living things

 

[fshhub]

silica sand, like quickrete will work
but southdown is better
check at your local home depot for yard right or another type of carribean play sand, that is all southdown is
as for gathering, cboy is almost right. Yes, those who mine sand from the ocean do so very close to sure, maybe a couple hundred yards. BUT from one particular place in the bahama chain. NOT from evey coastal state we have. Aragonite is mined from one specific location in the bahamas
silicate is mined inland, primarily
and both are sterilized and cleaned. HOW? I have no idea.
ps I would not get it myself because of
polution
laws(not sure of yours)
and life in the sand, it may not be what you want in your tank at all, and there is no way of telling until it is too late.