Could I use sand from outside for my aquarium?
- Thread starter Sythero
- Start date
Don't knock yourself out man. PFS is cheap, readily available, and tested and proven by MANY MFK'ers before you. Why not just use that?
I probably will now, I just really liked the color or my sand outside. I have some questions about PFS also. How fine is it? I don't want it to get in my filter when stirred. Is it that white? I was hoping for more of a light grey color for my sand.
PFS is not too fine. I have some in my 125 Ga with eheim filter intakes maybe an inch off the sand. Pumps are great, no problems. Sand's really heavy, doesn't stay stirred up at all.
As for color of PFS, that's hard to say. I've bought it twice and it was 2 different shades. First batch was off-white, second batch is kinda tan. And then there's colored sand you can buy, too. Don't know how expensive it is to ship, but it's out there.
I just go with whatever the local pool store has, give them $5 a bag and call it good. I like it. Fish swim around spitting it all over so they must like it, too.
As for color of PFS, that's hard to say. I've bought it twice and it was 2 different shades. First batch was off-white, second batch is kinda tan. And then there's colored sand you can buy, too. Don't know how expensive it is to ship, but it's out there.
I just go with whatever the local pool store has, give them $5 a bag and call it good. I like it. Fish swim around spitting it all over so they must like it, too.
you can use whatever sand. Just make sure it's not contaminated with oil, fertilizer, bug spray etc. Rinse hot or boil, and you're good to go.
I used to harvest creek sand for my tanks when I had smaller set-ups.
Nice diversity in color, and good memories.
I used to harvest creek sand for my tanks when I had smaller set-ups.
Nice diversity in color, and good memories.
The only two issues with using sand outside your apartment:
1) It's much more likely to contain lethal chemicals than purchased at the store. Pesticides, oil, other undesirable items (scraps of metal, shards of glass, etc.) could be in any batch you select.
2) Unless the owner has authorized taking it, it's considered to be a form of petit larceny. I would certainly ask the owner before taking it.
Otherwise, I don't see an issue.
1) It's much more likely to contain lethal chemicals than purchased at the store. Pesticides, oil, other undesirable items (scraps of metal, shards of glass, etc.) could be in any batch you select.
2) Unless the owner has authorized taking it, it's considered to be a form of petit larceny. I would certainly ask the owner before taking it.
Otherwise, I don't see an issue.
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Hello; The chlorine smell is likely from the local water source and not the sand. Not a problem. I recently washed a couple hunfred pounds of gravel and soaked it in a clorox solution. I gave it a final rinse and also allowed the tank to sit with the gravel and full of water for a few of days with a bubbler before adding plants and later fish.
I have used construction sand which is cheap. I use a colander of make a screen to sift out the very fine dust while it is dry. After i get the grain size i want, i give it a very good rinse. I do wash any sand or gravel prior to use.
I suppose sand could be contaminated but have never run into such an issue. As unexpected issues can come from lots of places as well as the substrate. I generally throw a few snails and plants in a new tank for a few days before adding fish. Snails are generally tough so an issue for them would be a red flag. I then add one fish and watch it for a few days.
It should also be noted that you need to use caution when sieving dry silica sand, as the dust is like airborne shards of glass, which can cause severe respiratory damage if inhaled.