Washing Sand with tap water

[CubanHogFish]

Hi Everyone, so I have sand stored from a previous set up that i had, the sand has been in a bin for a while (7yrs), I would like to rinse the sand and rocks but dont know if its safe to use the garden hose ( tap water ) or should I use RO? and then do I just use it after rinsing and cycle the tank or do I have to wait to the sand and rock dry to set it up and then cycle the tank?

 

[MoshJosh]

In order of safeness: Salt, RODI, then tap. . .

In order of practicality: tap

I would rinse in tap, drain the water, then let it dry out as best you can. Depending on how much sand you are working with getting it totally dry might take FOREVER, in that case I would just allow 24 hours time between rinse and putting it in the tank (let the chlorine evaporate or degrade or whatever. . .). I guess you could run carbon too. . .

 

[lapin]

Wash with tap water, drain and you will be fine

 

[Reef Psychology]

Done it dozens of times. It shouldn't be a problem. Just use RO/DI water for the last rinse. If you want to be really thorough you can let it soak in Prime overnight in RO/DI (or even tap) water, then the next day soak it in RO/DI water the next day. Should be fine.

EDIT: Oh, unless it was used in a medicated tank that used copper. Then no.

 

[Readywriter]

Hi Everyone, so I have sand stored from a previous set up that i had, the sand has been in a bin for a while (7yrs), I would like to rinse the sand and rocks but dont know if its safe to use the garden hose ( tap water ) or should I use RO? and then do I just use it after rinsing and cycle the tank or do I have to wait to the sand and rock dry to set it up and then cycle the tank?

I only ever rinsed with the garden hose. Followed by a quick rinse with RO if Im feeling fancy. But, then again Ive ran tanks with nyc tapwater exclusively and the ugly phase wasnt even that bad let alone any other problems.

 

[CubanHogFish]

The sand has never seen copper or any type of medication I had a 150g display tank sps dominant.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I use tap water to rinse. Then a final rinse in rodi water.

 

[CubanHogFish]

I use tap water to rinse. Then a final rinse in rodi water.

Sounds good just suck to wash 70lbs of sand

 

[CubanHogFish]

So I guess I'll Starr my build soon thanks guys!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Sounds good just suck to wash 70lbs of sand

Why not buy new?

 

[CubanHogFish]

I had the sand stored figured I can use it rather toss it out and increasing cost of starting all over again. I've been out of the hobby for around 6-7 yrs and now getting back in, lots have changed since then especially cost of equipment

 

[Garf]

Sounds good just suck to wash 70lbs of sand

I'd stick a little in a glass of fresh saltwater for a day or 2, see if it's leaching a load of phosphate.

 

[betareef]

Just a note that not every place has troublesome tap water. The water around here must be quite clean to start with, so I guess the amount of chemicals they dump into it is less. I have no problems washing something in tap water, shaking the water off, or letting it drain well, then using it in an aquarium.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I had the sand stored figured I can use it rather toss it out and increasing cost of starting all over again. I've been out of the hobby for around 6-7 yrs and now getting back in, lots have changed since then especially cost of equipment

Understood, but it might be worth the cost. I reused sand the first move and will never do that again.

That being said, if you're starting a new tank, why not just add the sand as-is, and let any organics serve as the ammonia source for nitrifying bacteria?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Just a note that not every place has troublesome tap water. The water around here must be quite clean to start with, so I guess the amount of chemicals they dump into it is less. I have no problems washing something in tap water, shaking the water off, or letting it drain well, then using it in an aquarium.

Someone once told me "a sneeze of chlorine [from tap water] won't hurt anything". I routinely clean the skimmer, pumps, etc in tap and put them right back in the tank.

 

[CubanHogFish]

Understood, but it might be worth the cost. I reused sand the first move and will never do that again.

That being said, if you're starting a new tank, why not just add the sand as-is, and let any organics serve as the ammonia source for nitrifying bacteria?

The sand sat in a brute trash can where I use to mix my salt water in, I put a lid on it and put it in my garage who knows what crawed in there in the last 6-7 yrs lol

 

[CubanHogFish]

I mean I want the ammonia but I don't any bugs that may have or not crawed in there

 

[mfinn]

Hi Everyone, so I have sand stored from a previous set up that i had, the sand has been in a bin for a while (7yrs), I would like to rinse the sand and rocks but dont know if its safe to use the garden hose ( tap water ) or should I use RO? and then do I just use it after rinsing and cycle the tank or do I have to wait to the sand and rock dry to set it up and then cycle the tank?

Use tapwater to rinse sand.

But I would probably use new sand.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you intend to use tap water to rinse sand, it may be worth checking your water quality report from your local water supply to see if they add phosphate. Phosphate can be several ppm in drinking water, and that may add more phosphate to the sand than you want, depending on how you rinse it and for how long.

 

[Dburr1014]

I rinse in tap, then rodi, I'll probably add some salt to just get things going. But that's me.
I'm on a well, 42 TDS to start.