Sand-new or old

[Tabasco1]

I have a big bucket of sand that was thrown in when I purchased my skimmer last year from a hobbyist getting out. It has lived in the 5g bucket with a cover for a little over a year. I am assuming completely dead now so there would be no 'live' sand benefit and would need to be cycled.

I am just wondering if I should scrap it for new sand or use it. Could there still be any pest that could still be living in the sand that could give me any issues? I know I would have to clean it before using.

Thanks!

 

[Troylee]

I would use new personally but if you decide to use that Sand put it in a pillow case and hang it from the spout in the tub and let some hot water run through it for a little bit to clean it out...

 

[Monroereef]

Don't risk it, get new sand. Well you can rinse the one you got, but it is not worth the risk. Sand is something that can really have nasty effects on your system.

Sunny

 

[Tabasco1]

And doesn't cost a ton... so probably not worth the savings for the potential issues down the road. 10-4. Thanks!

 

[Captain Nemo]

+1 to new sand, you would probably do more harm than good with the old, so spend a little bit and get the new:)

 

[Wy Renegade]

I reuse old sand on a fairly regular basis. It does need to be well rinsed; normally I recommend rinsing with salt water, but it this case tap water should be just fine (actually better than fine) since if the sand is aragonite, the tap water will dissolve the out layers releasing any potentially absorbed phosphates. No living pests will survive, and so long as you rinse it out very well you should have not issues with it. Just my opinion, based on many years of actually reusing the same sand.

 

[Tabasco1]

Wy-thanks for the other side of the coin. I DO have it and like that it is recylcled=less impact. It is aragonite and a grade that I like so other than the fact that it is not new it would be ok with me.

 

[butts182]

i don't think it is worth the risk just in case something bad is in there...if the sand is in a 5g bucket, then it's not too much...therefore not too expensive to replace...it might be a harder answer if you had a lot of it

 

[Tabasco1]

And... I could just use the sand in potting mix or something like that. Or maybe use it for a cool crafting project. hahaha.

 

[sprinklerdudes]

if I had a tank I was setting up and was not planning on adding any livestock any time soon, I would rinse it and use it,, I have a large tub I I cook live rock in, I usally save it up until I have a new batch I am going to start, and dump it all in, and let it cook for 6 months to a year, other than that scrap it and go new

 

[Just Clownin Around]

i would scrap it but thats me. 100 dollars for some sand is not worth the risk of killing some corals. at leat not for me
see if you could find the same sand just new

 

[Anthony Calfo]

+ 1 for new, for many reasons (pests can be encysted and dormant, buffering ability is worse on organic coated grains, phosphate may be sequestered, etc)