Rinsing sand with normal water

[spamvicious]

So I’m still in the process of setting up my nano tank. I had an RODI unit and I dropped it and it broke so I’m currently waiting for a new one to arrive.

I have the sand ready to rinse to put in my tank. My water is 37 TDS straight out of the tap. Is it going to be an issue down the line to rinse the sand with this water and then use RODI for top ups and water changes?

Or is that tds still too high even to rinse the sand with?

 

[fishface NJ]

No problem at all

Just remember when rinsing the sand to do it in small batches. This is to ensure it is clean. Finial rinse in rodi

 

[spamvicious]

No problem at all

Just remember when rinsing the sand to do it in small batches. This is to ensure it is clean. Finial rinse in rodi

Thanks. It’s only a small amount of sand anyway, I think 2 or 3 kg. I have the Fluval evo 13.5 so only a small space to cover.

 

[spamvicious]

https://www.yorkshirewater.com/media/kvtomilu/drinking-water-quality-standards-leaflet-2020-2021.pdf This is my water source

 

[GARRIGA]

One option is place sand in tank. Add enough water to create a layer above or fill it as high as wanted including full. Add clarifier. Attach canister filled with floss siphoning from near the surface to avoid picking up sand then just keep stirring the sand until it’s clean. Can be done with live sand as well. Only option I see for large systems and water added can be RODI since it’s not consistently being replaced.

To play it safe. Add a pre-filter to the intake to reduce sand from getting picked up.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is likely fine. Your water report is less useful than most since it does not give actual values, and just meeting the drinking standard is not good enough.

My concerns are some binding of copper and phosphate.

But I have done it and I think a tap water rinse is ok.

 

[Biff0rz]

I used a garden hose and a 5g bucket to rinse all my sand. I then dried it out as best possible by laying it out on a tarp and waiting.

 

[spamvicious]

It is likely fine. Your water report is less useful than most since it does not give actual values, and just meeting the drinking standard is not good enough.

My concerns are some binding of copper and phosphate.

But I have done it and I think a tap water rinse is ok.

Ah ok thanks for the info!

 

[spamvicious]

I used a garden hose and a 5g bucket to rinse all my sand. I then dried it out as best possible by laying it out on a tarp and waiting.

Ah I’ve never dried sand before putting it in a tank before. I’ve usually just rinsed it and then filled it up.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Personally, I'd wait for the RO unit to come and then use RO. Doing everything as 'by the book' as possible helps to avoid some potential 'what if?' questions in the future. It isn't a race, so waiting a couple days shouldn't matter.

 

[Dan_P]

It is likely fine. Your water report is less useful than most since it does not give actual values, and just meeting the drinking standard is not good enough.

My concerns are some binding of copper and phosphate.

But I have done it and I think a tap water rinse is ok.

Wouldn’t binding phosphate actually be good because most new aquaria initially run PO4 depleted, which is a no-no. Copper binding is never good.

 

[saltytanked]

Don’t chance it! You have no clue what may bind up on that sand. First problem you may have, think back to this thread.

 

[TokenReefer]

How much time is needed for binding?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wouldn’t binding phosphate actually be good because most new aquaria initially run PO4 depleted, which is a no-no. Copper binding is never good.

Depends on the amount, but possibly yes.

 

[Dan_P]

How much time is needed for binding?

It is s slow process. Small amount of binding may happen immediately but the accumulation is slow. More than 24 hours, maybe several days, is required to saturate the sand

 

[TokenReefer]

It is s slow process. Small amount of binding may happen immediately but the accumulation is slow. More than 24 hours, maybe several days, is required to saturate the sand

I recently washed some sand with tap; wasn't sure on the "soak" time. Good to know. Thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is s slow process. Small amount of binding may happen immediately but the accumulation is slow. More than 24 hours, maybe several days, is required to saturate the sand

What if the tap water phosphate is 5.4 ppm? Still slow?

 

[Dan_P]

What if the tap water phosphate is 5.4 ppm? Still slow?

Aha, I see your point.

Still requires hours to saturate the sand, but at intermediate times the sand could adsorb a disappointing amount of phosphate

 

[JonoH]

I rinsed all the sand for my 220 gal with tap water no worries.
The amount of water and time it took, i would have gone through thousands of litres of RODI which would have taken a ridiculous amount of time!

 

[Dan_P]

I rinsed all the sand for my 220 gal with tap water no worries.
The amount of water and time it took, i would have gone through thousands of litres of RODI which would have taken a ridiculous amount of time!

This is the sort of risk that can be estimated. Storing a little sand in tap water, roughly the amount needed to wash this small sample and then let it sit in saltwater a couple days to see if any phosphate comes off.