Does Old Sand Leach?

[fragit]

I am in the planning on setting up a new system after being out of the game for 3 years. I took down my old tank, kept every thing but the live stock. Rocks I kept in a blue bin, just took them out last weekend to play with aquascapes (I don't even have a new tank yet). All my sand has been in 5gal buckets for the last 3 years. I was planning on using this sand in a refugium, which i'm going to set up soon. I won't have a distplay up for many months, just the refugium, and sump running in my basement. Any way I was just reading a post on an other forum, about using old sand. It was suggested that it is a bad idea because the sand will "absorb" nitrates and phosphates from die off, and then release it when put back in a system. Any body know about this or have any experiences with this? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Just rinse it out well before using it, you'll be fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am in the planning on setting up a new system after being out of the game for 3 years. I took down my old tank, kept every thing but the live stock. Rocks I kept in a blue bin, just took them out last weekend to play with aquascapes (I don't even have a new tank yet). All my sand has been in 5gal buckets for the last 3 years. I was planning on using this sand in a refugium, which i'm going to set up soon. I won't have a distplay up for many months, just the refugium, and sump running in my basement. Any way I was just reading a post on an other forum, about using old sand. It was suggested that it is a bad idea because the sand will "absorb" nitrates and phosphates from die off, and then release it when put back in a system. Any body know about this or have any experiences with this? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Sand cannot absorb nitrate, but it can harbor organic matter that might degrade into nitrate and phosphate, and phosphate does bind to sand and it can be released later.

FWIW, when I stored sand in salt buckets, it quickly became anaerobic on the bottom. I'd check that it does not smell before considering using it.

If you decide to use it, rinse it well. If nitrate and phosphate rise in the tank, just be prepared to deal with that.

 

[fragit]

Sand cannot absorb nitrate, but it can harbor organic matter that might degrade into nitrate and phosphate, and phosphate does bind to sand and it can be released later.

FWIW, when I stored sand in salt buckets, it quickly became anaerobic on the bottom. I'd check that it does not smell before considering using it.

If you decide to use it, rinse it well. If nitrate and phosphate rise in the tank, just be prepared to deal with that.

Thanks Randy! Will do, I was planning on rinsing it no matter what. There will be a few months like 6 or so, to figure out the kinks (stinks) before I set up the entire system. Plenty of time to remedy the/a situation if one should arise. I plan on purchasing new sand for the display!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing.