Argonite nature ocean sand ??

[Yanir34]

Hello, does anyone using this sand for his reef tank ?
It is EXTREMELY difficult to clean this Sand...
First I washed it with good stream of tap water. A lot of dust came off.
Secondly, I rinsed it in RO water , but still ,water at RO bucket are cloudy

Any advice?

 

[CHSUB]

Keep washing with tap water until it’s clean, I have washed small amounts for up to ten minutes.

 

[Fish Fan]

That sand has been around for many years, it's fine to use, just keep rinsing it. Sand takes forever to rinse, and never really rinses fully clean, in my experience. Just get the majority of silt out of it and it will be fine. Your tank may be cloudy for a few days after setup, but should clear up soon after. Good luck!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve used fine oolotic aragonite in the past, but not on my current tank. I would rinse some, but it is almost fruitless to try to rinse until it is totally clear. It will cloud the tank for a while, then settle out.

 

[56longroof]

Just rinse it until the run off looks like watered down milk. Everybody over thinks this step.

 

[Garf]

Hello, does anyone using this sand for his reef tank ?
It is EXTREMELY difficult to clean this Sand...
First I washed it with good stream of tap water. A lot of dust came off.
Secondly, I rinsed it in RO water , but still ,water at RO bucket are cloudy

Any advice?

What is your phosphate at currently? When you throw this sand in the tank can you test it after 2 or 3 days, to see how much PO4 has dropped if at all? Thanks.

 

[Reefering1]

What is your phosphate at currently? When you throw this sand in the tank can you test it after 2 or 3 days, to see how much PO4 has dropped if at all? Thanks.

Is there a was to test this before adding to tank? Op has quiet a tank going- so unless he's starting a new one, Id assume he doesn't want any surprises..(?)

 

[Garf]

Is there a was to test this before adding to tank? Op has quiet a tank going- so unless he's starting a new one, Id assume he doesn't want any surprises..(?)

Yes, I've seen his tank on here. I control my phosphates using cleaned sand where the phosphates are removed from the sand either by lanthanum or sodium hydroxide or a combination of both or neither, depending on my test result. I would consider leaving new sand in a phosphate solution (tap water could work if it's high in phosphate) for a while to bind a little to avoid a sudden drop, if the tank runs normally low (especially large quantities of sand).