Corpus Christi Sand...

[cbianco]

Hello all

My girlfriend will be taking a trip down to Corpus at the end of this month. Since I want some additional sand in my tank, I was thinking about having her bring me back some sand (about 5-10 pounds). Yes, I do know that this may not be the most legal idea. This brings to mind a few questions:

1. Is the sand from Corpus polluted (I am sure that it is but would like a second opinion).

2. Can I safely clean the sand using such methods as sifting for larger objects then baking at a high temperature for smaller organisms?

3. Are there problems that may arise from using Corpus beach sand? If so, what problems?

4. Does anyone object to this idea in a major way?

Thanks for your opinions on these questions! If you wish to flame me for this idea I prefer you do it in a PM.

Christopher

[eric]

It's a topic that comes up every couple of months. Different opinions, but I've taken sand directly from the beach and added it with no problems. Some prefer to take the dune sand as being less bacterial infected. Others think it's asking for trouble.

If you were to clean it real good and bake it, it would just be easier to get a bag of play sand locally.

[cbianco]

eric

I have heard that the play sand works as well, but that cost money, lol :). My girlfriend will be going down to Corpus regardless of my wanting sand or not. I just thought that while she was there that she could very easily pick some up. I'm glad to see you haven't had any problems with Corpus sand.

Some additional opinions would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone else such as eric had experience with beach sand (good or bad)?

Christopher

[ratboy]

My main concern would be is the sand silica based or calcium based? Bring some vinegar w/ you to check - if it fizzes its good. I am going there with my family tommorow so I try and check it myself...

-Erik

[cbianco]

ratboy

I would appreciate you test the sand out. Even with such a simple task my girlfriend would mess it up, lol (still love you baby! :) ). You could either post the results here or PM the results to me and I will post them for you!

There has got to be a few peple out there that absolutely love/hate this idea of mine!

Christopher

[brewercm]

We have a member that always used the sand from there, but gathered it from the dunes without ever having a problem.

[thedude]

To me, it sounds like a risk that's too high for the potential money saved over just buying some playsand. JMHO

[smelleybrad]

I have about 50lbs or more of the dune sand in my tank now and I have had no problems. It looks really nice to. It's really fine though so you might have to put some special grade on top to keep it settled down. I really like it though.

[GaryP]

No need to test it, its silica sand. Carbonate sand (aragonite) only occurs in areas where there are coral reefs. A waste of perfectly good vinegar. Go make a salad or something with it. :)

[cbianco]

So Gary what is your opinion on my (*sarcastic tone*) ingenous idea? Pros/Cons?

Christopher

[GaryP]

Do you mean igneous sand? Its sorta like using limestone in a tank. It doesn't really hurt anything if its clean, but it doesn't really help anything either.

[Ping]

I recently set up a fuge with 3 inches of Corpus sand. Will is still colonize with helpful anaerobic bacteria, and just not provide calcium?

[dwdenny]

I always tought of sand from the beach as a dig skimmer if you look early in the morning there is all this foam like a skimmer. Not sure if it is true or not but I think it still a rish to high for me(and I have not even set up my tank yet). But like I said I don't know.

[cbianco]

Ping

I think that silca can cause problems such as algea growth. I would assume that once it is mixed in with your old/established sand it would eventually populate with bacteria and the such.

I'm thinking that maybe the Corpus sand is not a good way to go if it is mainly made of silica.

Christopher

[GaryP]

Silica sand will not provide calcium. it will still colonize with anaerobic bacteria if it is sufficiently deep (at least 4 inches.)

The algae problem you are referring to is diatoms which are silica based. It has not been shown that silica sand leaches soluble silica sand into the water that can be used by diatoms.

[cbianco]

GaryP

Atleast I know that it will not cause algae problems but Corpus sand would still provide minimal/no buffering in the aquarium so it may just be better to buy some sand. There is no way that I am going to get four inches of sand in my nano cube, hell that would be a quarter of the tank, lol :lol!

[GaryP]

That's one problem with nanos and one reason why fairly large, weekly water changes are recommended for nanos. You don't really get that much buffering or calcium from an aragonite sand bed either. There is some dissolution of the sand in a new tank but it soon becomes covered in bacterial film and phosphates which pretty much stops that within a few weeks.

[cbianco]

Gary

Do you have any sand that I could have, even if there is a minimal fee involved. I just like the asthetics a bit deeper sand bed. I figure with all of your tanks you probably have a bit of extra sand lying around, lol. I currently have about 1-1.5 inches of sand but wold like to add about an additional inch. I don't really want play sand (or corpus as I learned), something a bit more "realistic" such as agronite (sp) or live sand.

Christopher

[GaryP]

No, I gave away the last of the "spare" sand I had. Try posting something in the wanted forum. There have been some group orders of aragonite play sand in the past. There are probably some bags of that still around that you can get at a low cost. Its basically the same thing as you can get from the LFS but sold at a lower price for playground applications. It is generally referred to by the trade name Southdown.

[cbianco]

Gary

I'll make a post in the WTB forum tommorow. Hopefully someone will be willing to part out just a few pounds, no way do I need a bag of this stuff, lol. Thanks Anyways!

Christopher

[motohead]

well,i live here in corpus and i know i will never put it in my tank.but then again,i work at a refinery out here so i see what goes in the water and into the air.........................

[Shark_Bait]

^^^^^ Yea another Corpus person^^^^^

[StephenA]

I've got 150lbs of South Padre Island sand in my tank. It looks great. I mixed with 50lbs of larger particle sand.

[smelleybrad]

I have a bunch of special grade agronite if you want some. How much do you need? Also, its free!!!! :D

[cbianco]

smelleybrad

Where did the agronite come from (ie. bagged from lfs, what brand, or anything else I should know)? Are you going to the meeting on the 22nd? Free is the right price I would just like some additional info on the agronite, Thanks :) !

Can I just call you Brad and drop the smelly, no offense of course? Anyway hit me back with some info!

Christopher

[GaryP]

Christopher,

The stuff that Brad has is the same as what you saw in my 125 gal. tank. Its CaribSea Special grade, 1-2 mm particle size. Go for it, its good stuff.

[cbianco]

Gary

I think I will!

Brad

You got PM!

Christopher

[brucedittmar]

I WOULD NOT USE IT.
IF BEACH SAND WAS THAT GOOD WHY IS EVERYONE ON ALL OF THE US BEACHES NOT USEING IT?
PLUS CORPUS SAND IS VERY VERY FINE AND PACKS VERY TIGHT.

[StephenA]

I WOULD NOT USE IT.
IF BEACH SAND WAS THAT GOOD WHY IS EVERYONE ON ALL OF THE US BEACHES NOT USEING IT?
PLUS CORPUS SAND IS VERY VERY FINE AND PACKS VERY TIGHT.

Why are you yelling at us.

The Corpus Sand in my tank is very loose. What do you think Pure Caribbean Aragonite is? It's beach sand. The diff is it's white and corpus sand is brown.