Cleaning Siphoned Sand

[FiddlersReef]

If I see a patch of cyno or other algae on the sand, and siphon it up during a water change, what's the best way to "clean" that sand before putting it back in the tank. i.e., so I don't just return a bunch of spores.

Does rinsing it under freshwater kill everything? Or do I need to dry it out before putting it back?

I'm normally only taking about a cup of sand or so, but if I just throw it out, that's a lot of sand over time. So I'd like to clean and return it.

Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

A light siphoning, reduction of white light intensity and addition of liquid bacteria such as bacter 7 will help with this
Thereafter, add snails such as margarita, trochus, astrea, and Nassarius which will help curb future growth

 

[FiddlersReef]

A light siphoning, reduction of white light intensity and addition of liquid bacteria such as bacter 7 will help with this
Thereafter, add snails such as margarita, trochus, astrea, and Nassarius which will help curb future growth

Thanks for the response. Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I wasn't asking about cleaning the sandbed per se. More, how to clean the sand that I accidentally siphon out so I can put it back in the tank.

I am using MB7, and I don't get a lot of algae growth on the sand. But when I do, I try to suck it out, plus any built up other detritis, which naturally pulls out some sand along with it. When that happens, I don't want to just throw the sand away or down the drain, I want to clean it properly before returning the it to the tank. I wasn't sure if just a freshwater rinse is enough to kill any spores on the sand, or if I need to dry it out, or something else.

 

[brandon429]

You’d rinse it in tap water then ro, then put it back. It’s not dangerous heres two million bucks of entire reef tank beds doing the rinse you are doing one handful

if you skipped the ro rinse it still wouldn’t hurt anything.

 

[brandon429]

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for the response. Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I wasn't asking about cleaning the sandbed per se. More, how to clean the sand that I accidentally siphon out so I can put it back in the tank.

I am using MB7, and I don't get a lot of algae growth on the sand. But when I do, I try to suck it out, plus any built up other detritis, which naturally pulls out some sand along with it. When that happens, I don't want to just throw the sand away or down the drain, I want to clean it properly before returning the it to the tank. I wasn't sure if just a freshwater rinse is enough to kill any spores on the sand, or if I need to dry it out, or something else.

Place in nylon stocking like pouch and rinse or rinse in bucket without too much agitation

 

[brandon429]

Dont add mb7 after the cycle. You’re being tricked into wasting money if you add it. It doesn’t do anything among the reef tank biota.

 

[brandon429]

That assessment sounds mean but it stems from no fifty page fix threads for mb7, or even two page ones. It literally does nothing to help a reef after a cycle. It’s entire recommendation basis doesn’t come from any work threads it’s just peers that sell it to each other.

 

[FiddlersReef]

That assessment sounds mean but it stems from no fifty page fix threads for mb7, or even two page ones. It literally does nothing to help a reef after a cycle. It’s entire recommendation basis doesn’t come from any work threads it’s just peers that sell it to each other.

Interesting. It's not just reefers mentioning it... even the MB7 instructions specifically talk about it's use with established low-nutrient aquaria. I definitely noticed a reduction in algae on the glass and sandbed after I started adding about 12 ml / week. I'm not saying you're wrong, just surprised.

 

[brandon429]

I heard reports it helped with cyano for some too, agreed. it also factors that surgery on the tanks was more fun


That's a really handy rinse though for your handful, it's convenient and works well