I'm currently setting up my first ever tank and going through the process of rinsing my sand, which arrived dry. The process I'm currently applying is:
I don't want to take any chances with livestock though (the tank is going to be home to a peacock mantis shrimp) so if doing it this way is the only safe way, that's what I'll do.
Edit: I should clarify, there's currently no livestock or water in the tank - I only got it yesterday. Still need to cycle it and everything.
- Pour a bag of dry sand into a large bucket
- Add about an inch of RO water on top of the sand straight from my RO unit (I have no RO water stored yet, I only installed the unit this morning)
- Swirl the same around with my fingers to make the water really cloudy
- Tip the bucket over the drain outside to let all the water out
- Return to step 2
I don't want to take any chances with livestock though (the tank is going to be home to a peacock mantis shrimp) so if doing it this way is the only safe way, that's what I'll do.
Edit: I should clarify, there's currently no livestock or water in the tank - I only got it yesterday. Still need to cycle it and everything.