Natural beach sand

[cu455]

Here is my native tank with northeast sand. The flounder is a windowpane flounder and not regulated. The lighting in the picture is a cfl so it looks a little yellow. The sand looks fine. The sand looks fine to me.

 

[Paul B]

I also have such a native tank and have had it for many years. Here it has no sand in it, but most of the time it has about half inch of beach sand and it does fine. But if you put northern beach sand in there too deep, it will turn black and form hydrogen sulfide unless you run some water through it as I do when I keep fiddler crabs.
Here it has blowfish, pipefish, some butterflies and shrimp. There have been flounders, lobsters and many types of crabs over the years.

 

[MdReef]

I'm in Ocean City, Maryland this week. I was laying on the beach at Assateague island yesterday and looking at the beach sand where the water was hitting it. The wet sand is more brown then white but is pretty fine.

Was wondering if anyone has tried using sand like this and if so what are some of the challenges? Wondering how the browner color may look in a tank.

Yes this is a new tank build.

I live Maryland and I can assure you that the sand on the beaches in Ocean City is trucked in.

 

[Bracka345]

So I should be safe using beach sand from the Caribbean where I live since it's nice and clean???

 

[inetjnky]

The sand on Assateague I'm pretty sure isn't trucked in, however with that said it wouldn't surprise me if the sand from ocean city isn't making its way over to Assateague with the tide. It also wouldn't surprise me if Assateague is dredging just off shore to pull the sand that gets pulled out to sea back onto the beach. On Assateague I wouldn't want sand that wasn't wet by the water line because of the plant particulate and wood particulate that's throughout the sand. Too much debris.

 

[vladandlilith]

I wonder if sand and or sea water from the Ft. Walton Beach area of Florida would be okay? I'm asking out of pure curiosity as my tanks are already moved and up and going, but my daughter wants a small tank, 30-40 gallons and I wonder if it would work?

 

[Paul B]

So I should be safe using beach sand from the Caribbean where I live since it's nice and clean???

Yes it is

 

[cobast]

When I set up my 50 litre refugium in my then 2yo tank, I thought I'd try some local beach sand in it so I "accidentally" acquired a 20 litre bucket full. (Beautiful clean white Sydney sand.) I only put in a couple of inches of sand in the fuge without any washing. I just picked out some of the bigger shells. After set up I had no dramas at all. No algal spikes or skimmer going crazy. There is some creature activity in the sand but not sure what it is. Just the occasional little mounds of sand appear.

 

[Bracka345]

Thanks Paul B and cobast,

A little off topic what about me using seawater? Our water in the Cayman Islands is beautiful and clear with no pollution and it's easy to get.

 

[WetWhistle]

I would not risk it. Think of all the crap and chemicals that wash up onshore with all the people all over it with sun screen, dirty kids and animals. All that sunscreen and chemicals can get into your tank I would assume. I know a guy that tried that years ago and he lost everything. He had a oil slick look even after he washed it.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Thanks Paul B and cobast,

A little off topic what about me using seawater? Our water in the Cayman Islands is beautiful and clear with no pollution and it's easy to get.

It's a fairly common practice in Florida.....tanker trucks actually fill up and go around delivering water. I'd do it! Just check salinity and temperature, and you're good to go.

 

[Bracka345]

It's a fairly common practice in Florida.....tanker trucks actually fill up and go around delivering water. I'd do it! Just check salinity and temperature, and you're good to go.

Thanks!!!

 

[Harold Green]

I agree most beach sand is not a good idea. Not impossible to use but it can often be contaminated with anything that happens to wash ashore. Ocean water can be great and many public aquariums along coasts use the ocean water for their systems. If you're worried about plankton just put the water in the dark for several weeks then filter and use it. I brought some home years ago and filled a tank set outdoors in a shady location. The water turned pea green and over the next month the glass had hundreds of barnacles growing on it. I've often though of sitting up another outdoor tank to feed that live water into my display. Our corals are most likely starved when it comes to finding live foods in the tank water.

 

[Bracka345]

I would not risk it. Think of all the crap and chemicals that wash up onshore with all the people all over it with sun screen, dirty kids and animals. All that sunscreen and chemicals can get into your tank I would assume. I know a guy that tried that years ago and he lost everything. He had a oil slick look even after he washed it.

Thanks for the reply.

Where I would be getting it there isn't much human traffic

 

[AlexStinson]

I used local sand for one of my tanks. It worked pretty well, but I did find some random trash in it. But, you should be aware of the composition of your local sand. You need carbonate sand, not silica based sand.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

You may find a few toe nails in your sand

 

[redfishbluefish]

You may find a few toe nails in your sand

In my part of the county, you might find Jimmy Hoffa!

 

[Bracka345]

That's how my sand and ocean look just down the road from my house.

 

[redfishbluefish]

@Bracka345 after seeing this picture, for me to make a true assessment of the safety of your sand and water, I'll need to inspect this first hand. Please provide a round trip ticket, and then I'll be able to answer your query clearly. Note that this visit might require about two weeks for me to do my full assessment, and also require certain chemicals.......Scotch immediately comes to mind............about 1.75 liters is a good start.......and ice of course.........should last the first week anyway.


A beach chair, umbrella and suntan lotion will help as well!

 

[Paul B]

Thanks Paul B and cobast,

A little off topic what about me using seawater? Our water in the Cayman Islands is beautiful and clear with no pollution and it's easy to get.

If you are in the Caymans why would you use any other water? I use water from New York right near the City and my tank is fine. Cayman water is cleaner than any water you can find, even cleaner than you can make there from the freshwater. Just use it right from the beach, no problems at all. Where do you think tropical fish come from?

I am also coming with Redfishbluefish just to make sure you collect it properly.