Recycle sand

[Joe Fish]

When I do water changes I suck up some sand and I have been setting it aside for a while now. I'm wondering what I need to do to make it safe to put back in my tank. Just rinse it?

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

well... if all thats happened to it is that its been sucked up, you dont even have to do that. though it may make your sand bed less dusty if you do "recycle" it by rinsing and replacing.

 

[Joe Fish]

Well, I have been putting it in a bucket for a while now. I now have enough to do something with. The bucket smell like rotten eggs so I think I would have to clean it somehow, but I don't know what to do.

 

[CoolWaters]

smells like rotten eggs? its probably because of the organic waste in the water and u dont clean it after a water change...overtime mold grows...

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

i doubt its mould... probably just rotting organics like cool said. id rinse and put it back if you need more sand in there.

 

[Lotus]

If you're leaving it in water with no circulation, it will develop anaerobic bacteria, hence the rotten eggs smell.

You could probably rinse it in freshwater, then leave it to dry, and hopefully it would be safe, but I couldn't guarantee it.

 

[Joe Fish]

I'll give that a try and maybe put it in a 10 gallon first to see there are any param spikes.

 

[Mahamotorworks]

I would consider adding a little bleach to the fresh water rince then use extra dechlor to get rid of the bleach. I agree with you to set up a tank and see how it works.

MAHA

 

[Lorna]

I would think that by rinsing in well then spread it on a cookie sheet and let it dry in the sun should kill anything in it......stir it up until it is dry.......then put it in a 10g just to be certain.....I wouldn't do the chlorine and it may be unecessary

 

[Joe Fish]

I'll give that a shot and see what happens. I might just use it to start a fish only 10 gallon and a place to put all my hermits.

 

[TRe]

id just toss it

 

[Joe Fish]

I bleached it then set it out in the sun. Should it still smell a little like bleach? Is it safe to use now?

 

[TRe]

if it smells like bleach i wouldnt add it to my tank...thats just me though

 

[Lorna]

you need to put it in a bucket with some chlorine remover....to neutralize it.

 

[Joe Fish]

Like that tap water stuff you would use if you use tap water in your tank?

 

[Lorna]

yes just like that....but more concentrated and stir it up...