Washing Sand

[Ineedhelp]

If I wash the sand do I have to cycle? I just think since I am moving my tank and Ive used pretty much the same sand for 6 years it wouldnt be a bad idea, but I have live stock and dont have the time if I need to cycle again. Thanks for the help!

 

[Ineedhelp]

anyone?

 

[CarrieB]

What causes a "cycle" is having more organics than the current bacterial population can handle. If you are moving the tank with six year old sand, you are more likely to cause a cycle if you don't wash it, because the detritus stirred up will be exposed and start to rot.

If you have lots of well established rock, I don't think you'll have a problem either using new sand or well-washed sand. Wash it in SW if you want to preserve the resident bacteria. Monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels after the move just to be sure and have some prime handy, just in case.

 

[Brew12]

What causes a "cycle" is having more organics than the current bacterial population can handle. If you are moving the tank with six year old sand, you are more likely to cause a cycle if you don't wash it, because the detritus stirred up will be exposed and start to rot.

If you have lots of well established rock, I don't think you'll have a problem either using new sand or well-washed sand. Wash it in SW if you want to preserve the resident bacteria. Monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels after the move just to be sure and have some prime handy, just in case.

+1 on this
Most of your filtration will occur in your life rocks. Re-using sand without washing it can cause a lot of problems. The better you clean it the less likely you are to experience a cycle.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yes wash it well. light peroxide, and yes I use tap water from the hose in the yard to do it. the large amount of bacteria in the porous aragonite where the bacteria mostly live wont all die.
my final rinse actually is old tank water. and Prime;)

 

[Ineedhelp]

thanks for the help, I am sorry I dont understand "prime" is that an additive? Apologies for my ignorance...

 

[Brew12]

thanks for the help, I am sorry I dont understand "prime" is that an additive? Apologies for my ignorance...

No need to apologize. It is an additive.
http://www.seachem.com/prime.php

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

thanks for the help, I am sorry I dont understand "prime" is that an additive? Apologies for my ignorance...

no sweat, Thanks Brew. any bacterial additive/dechlorinator.

 

[nervousmonkey]

If you are going to keep the sand, rinse it super well.

Personally I would get my critters out of the sand, like nassarius snails, etc, ditch the old sand and just start with new. live or dry and dead, it'll go live really quickly with your rocks. if you want to make sure, throw a sponge in your sump and leave it there, then add it to your DT for a day when you have moved. You will not have a cycle at all. If anything, I'd call it a healthy jump by either rinsing til clear

If you are moving the tank with six year old sand, you are more likely to cause a cycle if you don't wash it, because the detritus stirred up will be exposed and start to rot.

+1000. If you don't get that nasty sand out or cleaned, you will have a massive number of issues..

 

[reef addicted]

I used old sand from ome of my tanks and used in my other one by putting it in a old pillow case and putting it in the bath tub while rinsing hot water in it i did it several times and put ro in a tub and added conditioner to it and let it in there with couple fans blowing at it. Bit i have notice my tank cycle is slower than using live sand.

 

[Lninwa]

I've heard it's best to get new sand because the old sand harbors a lot of nitrates. The rock will still have the good bacteria if it is from your current running tank

 

[Reefahholic]

*Let me note this for documentation purposes*

I washed some Tropic Eden Reef Flakes for years and took the sand with me every time I moved. The tank always did fine after I set it up again as long as I washed it.

When I say "washed it", I mean bleach and rinse the sand. We all know that sand is funky/ nasty if it's been pulled from an established aquarium that's been running for a while.

NOTE:
The last time I bleached my sand, I had some real issues for one reason alone. It was the bleach I used. In the past, I've always used the cheap "value bleach" at Wal-mart or whatever store I bought it at. This last time I made the HUGE mistake of buying "brand name" bleach. I believe Clorox is what I bought. The bleach had DETERGENT in it!!!!!

So after I noticed all the soap suds....I though SOB...what the heck! Then I thought....well F@#$ IT i'll just rinse the heck out of it until the water runs clear. When I say rinse the heck out of it....BOY DID I.....for days....at least 20x. Long story short....the water FINALLY ran clear with no suds and I decided to put it in the tank. Bad idea...6 hours later all my fish were dying. I managed to save a few, but the rest didn't make it. Lesson learned!!

NEVER BUY BRAND NAME BLEACH.

Find the cheapest off brand dollar store bleach you can get. Those are the ones that will be too cheap to put detergent in their bleach as detergent will cost them more money. Better yet....use Vinegar.

Happy Reefing!

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

From personal experience I would say that risks far out way the costs saved by reusing sand.

However, due to not having the largest of budgets I did reuse sand with one of my tank moves and didn't know better at the time (I had just purchased my first used tank) and had nitrates through the roof and a house that reeked of sulfur.

Make sure you very thoroughly rinse the water, and it may not hurt to follow the H2O2 recommendation.

 

[Ineedhelp]

I rinsed and rinsed will keep you posted of my experience!

 

[JerseyReefer]

I rinsed and rinsed will keep you posted of my experience!

Did anything happen? I just washed mine today. Nasty nasty nasty. Glad I did it because of all the gunk I found. I am having a dino problem but only on the sand. After trying a bunch of things I figured why not clean the sand and see if it helps. If not I may just remove it all.

Did you experience any issues?

 

[Lninwa]

I've read it's not worth it to wash the sand when moving just buy new sand

 

[ca1ore]

I've got some sand and rocks that have been used and reused for 25 years. I rinse old sand very well and plop it back in. Don't recall ever having any major issues frankly. If your tank cannot handle a bit of nitrate then your export mechanisms need beefing up.

 

[brandon429]

If I post this in 85 threads then I'll get 85 views lol



Tap rinsing the old pico reef like film folks above

Tap tap tap then saltwater then reassembled ad infinitum ten yrs now. It used to not be modular like this where I could take apart, so from 06- to 2014 I just harshly poured 20 gallons of SW through it with corals and all in place, same effectiveness. Tap saves me from needing the 20 gallons.

When you can disturb a bed like this and get no cycle and no clouding, then you've got some mighty clean sand not pumping out nitrates or ammonia.