Does aragonite sand rinse milky?

[Mark3]

Trying to reuse sand...

After a mistake in trying to clean some sand, with nothing to loose....if I am going to throw it out and not use it, I might as well try to see what can be done. So dumped some muriatic acid in and stood back as it bubbled and smoked away....stirred it up a few times and let it soak for a couple of hours. Then rinse and rinse and rinse (going to hate my water bill) the sand is really clean now, but it still has a milky water rinse.

Does aragonite sand always have a milky rinse water? or does it ever rinse clear? ...I can't quit now.

 

[ca1ore]

I've never put muriatic acid in any sand, but it is not unusual for sand to take a few good washes to begin to clear.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes cloudy but for about 12 hours

 

[mfinn]

When I rinse my aragonite sand it takes more than just a few rinses to get the powder out.
I've seen tanks that people haven't done a good rinse and they stayed cloudy for a couple days.
So I always go a little overboard.

I would never use acid on aragonite sand. IMO it's mostly just going to dissolve a portion of it.

 

[waterskiguy]

The powder is probably the residue from melting the top layer of the sand granules. This is normal for any rock acid etching process. when you do live rock, you can see the top layer actually go away. The sand will probably be a lot sharper after the etching. at least, this is what live rock does.

 

[Mark3]

the acid was a last resort....I first used splashless clorox on it....then used the acid to clean the clorox off. It's been a long process (at least I learned a lesson)

the acid may of softened the aragonite, making it milky?

I have just used beach sand in the past, works great, looks good, and priced right.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Yes, by using acid you have softened the sand, and as you continue to rinse/agitate it, the grains will rub together and continue to release fines, giving the rinse water a milky appearance. Just rinse the heck out of it until it is mostly clear, but you should be fine to use it even if it’s not rinsing perfectly clear. It’s the actual rinsing and agitation that continues to release the fines, so it should be okay just sitting on the bottom of your tank.

 

[Mark3]

I think it is the cleanest sand you will ever find....after a bleach and acid bath...I have been washing and rinsing it for almost two weeks now....I'm going to let it rinse another day or two and then I will feel safe to use it.

I have RO water producing on it now....it is nice and clear barrel of water.....it's going to be fine!