Sand Rinsing!

[CatsandClowns]

Heyo, I’m starting up a tank very soon. I’ll be using the caribsea arag alive sand since I like the grain size and density. Anyways, does anybody know what kind of bacterial families are found in this bagged sand? I have a feeling it doesn’t do **** in the long term as other dominant bacterial strains take control. So I feel it’s only really important if you begin with purely dry rock, so as to minimize initial shocks. I’ll be starting this setup with purely live rock so I don’t think there’s any bacterial issues with rinsing it, I just don’t want the tank to be cloudy by the time I transfer all my residents over to the new tank.

Also how long is it okay to let this pre rinsed sand sit out, I would like to do this step in advance.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Tahoe61]

I agree, live sand meh, unless it's from a running system.
I rinse the heck out of aragonite, until it runs clear. But I can't stand a cloudy tank, a lot of people just filter the dust out.
I just let it dry.

 

[exnisstech]

I rinse all sand, even live. I didn't rinse live once and it was a mess. I rinse in a bucket with a garden hose. I put several inches in the bucket and use a strong stream of water to stir it, dump the water, rinse again and repeat until the water stays clear.

EDIT. By live I meant bagged live sand. I would not rinse sand from a live rock vendor or if I did to clean and remove die off only saltwater would be used.

 

[CatsandClowns]

Hey yall, I rinsed it real well today. Took some time and much more water than I’d like. I was mixing it around whilst overfilling it. Even if its not perfect, it’s a heck of a lot better than it was right out of the bag!

Also really bugs me how much plastic there was.

 

[BryanM]

I would rinse, with tap, and when it runs clean I'd rinse once more with rodi

 

[hatfielj]

Heyo, I’m starting up a tank very soon. I’ll be using the caribsea arag alive sand since I like the grain size and density. Anyways, does anybody know what kind of bacterial families are found in this bagged sand? I have a feeling it doesn’t do **** in the long term as other dominant bacterial strains take control. So I feel it’s only really important if you begin with purely dry rock, so as to minimize initial shocks. I’ll be starting this setup with purely live rock so I don’t think there’s any bacterial issues with rinsing it, I just don’t want the tank to be cloudy by the time I transfer all my residents over to the new tank.

Also how long is it okay to let this pre rinsed sand sit out, I would like to do this step in advance.

Thanks everyone!

I just filled a tank with dry sand yesterday. I rinsed it in a 5 gallon bucket outside with a hose first. Let it run until clear. Then I drained and rinsed with RO. Then straight into the tank (which is new, but already running). It was a little cloudy at first, but by morning it's totally clear again.
There's no point in spending the extra dollars on "live sand" if you plan on rinsing it IMO.

 

[CatsandClowns]

Heyo, I’m starting up a tank very soon. I’ll be using the caribsea arag alive sand since I like the grain size and density. Anyways, does anybody know what kind of bacterial families are found in this bagged sand? I have a feeling it doesn’t do **** in the long term as other dominant bacterial strains take control. So I feel it’s only really important if you begin with purely dry rock, so as to minimize initial shocks. I’ll be starting this setup with purely live rock so I don’t think there’s any bacterial issues with rinsing it, I just don’t want the tank to be cloudy by the time I transfer all my residents over to the new tank.

Also how long is it okay to let this pre rinsed sand sit out, I would like to do this step in advance.

Thanks everyone!

I just filled a tank with dry sand yesterday. I rinsed it in a 5 gallon bucket outside with a hose first. Let it run until clear. Then I drained and rinsed with RO. Then straight into the tank (which is new, but already running). It was a little cloudy at first, but by morning it's totally clear again.
There's no point in spending the extra dollars on "live sand" if you plan on rinsing it IMO.

Yea lesson learned. It was the only option in stock at my LFS other than Fiji pink so

 

[CatsandClowns]

I would rinse, with tap, and when it runs clean I'd rinse once more with rodi

Just filled the tank up part of the way. It is so clear it’s amazing!!!!

 

[CatsandClowns]

I would rinse, with tap, and when it runs clean I'd rinse once more with rodi

Just filled the tank up part of the way. It is so clear it’s amazing!!!!

An only waiting for water to warm up then it’s move time!

 

[hatfielj]

Yea lesson learned. It was the only option in stock at my LFS other than Fiji pink so

I know what you mean. I couldn't find sand anywhere. Had to order it online and wait

 

[CatsandClowns]

Yea lesson learned. It was the only option in stock at my LFS other than Fiji pink so

I know what you mean. I couldn't find sand anywhere. Had to order it online and wait

Took the better part of 8 hours but everything is moved except for lighting. Went way smoother than expected!