Using local beach sand?

saltfishfreak

saltfishfreak

New Member
I live in the Tampa area and I am thinking about using Clearwater Beaches sand for my tank. It's very fine white sand. I will be setting up a plenum in a very large tank so I will need a lot of sand. I will use this sand for at least 1" of my sand and buy some live sand to go on top or could I use some of the local live sand. Is this a bad idea? I wouldn't do this with an existing tank but thought it may help to cycle my new tank.
Thoughts, opinions??
 
teen

teen

Active Member
idk where clear water beach is, but if its a local public beach, or a beach that people frequent, i would stay away from it. if its a secluded beach, you may have better luck, but tides still wash in pollutants.
 
triga22

triga22

Active Member
I wouldnt use any sand from any beach. Sand is part of the oceans filter getting rid of trash and such. I would just be safe and go with live sand or people have sucess with some play sand.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Be SURE you check whether or not it is legal. There are strict restrictions in some areas.
The easiest thing is to go get playsand from the home store, IMO. Already bagged....
 
shrimpi

shrimpi

Active Member
playsand says 'not for aquarium use' right on the bag.
not sure if you guys are talking about something else, but I picked some up this week for my moms hermit crabs, and thats what it said.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by Shrimpi
playsand says 'not for aquarium use' right on the bag.
not sure if you guys are talking about something else, but I picked some up this week for my moms hermit crabs, and thats what it said.


There are different varieties. But "not for aquarium use " is also a fairly recent tactic and they will possibly have no liability.
But many people use various brands of play sand without issue, trust me.
If it is safe for kids to play in....I think it will be safe for a fish tank. There are certain brands that are carbonate sand and that will be perfectly fine.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
IMO, buying live sand is overrated. There is little benefit in it. Harvesting live sand could introduce gunk from the beach - bits of whatever people have left.
Any sand substrate, "living" or otherwise, when introduced to LR in short order will be "live" anyway.
But DO check whether it is legal. I'm serious on that.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
There have been lots of threads on identifying appropriate play sand, if that is the direction you may go.
 
briand7878

briand7878

Member
I bought quickcrete play sand from lowes for my tank. I have had absolutely no problems with it. The sand looks great and all of my levels look good. It takes about a week to completely settle since it is so fine. It seems that after about a month it does not even stir up clouding the tank. I love it and it cost $7.00 for the entire tank.
 
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