How do i clean sand

[edshas2]

Im about to pick up some used sand, was wondering how to clean it, do i use salt water or can i just use fresh water, Just looking for some ideas thanks

[LuckySingh]

tagging along...i never clean mine..need to know:)

[Scream311]

In the Past ive had to Clean Lots and Lots of Sand and have done so by simply mixing Fresh Water into a Half full 5 Gallon Bucket and Rinsing untill Water becomes CLEAR

VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY TIME CONSUMING but Cheaper then Buying New !

just make sure you let water settle in tank after newly washed sand has been introduced and that you SEED the tank with some Good Live Sand to Start up a Cycle

[Europhyllia]

I put sand in a bucket and flush it with a water hose. There will be lots of cleaning to do and I'm not sure how you would get the amount of water and pressure to do it with saltwater. So I would clean it with water out of a faucet/hose.

I usually splurge on new sand though rather than get used. Such a nutrient trap! And even new sand takes so much effort to clean, etc.

[alton]

The only thing I would add is after all the flushing with tap, clean one last time with prime added to the last bucket of tap water and then spread sand on a clean surface to sun/air dry.

[Bill S]

Lots of fresh water. I don't worry about chlorine - it's better that you kill everything than to have a pest make it thru.

[jrnannery]

Agitate the hell out of it, and dump off the super fine stuff, leaving just the proper size substrate. I also screen mine to remove old shells, bits of dead coral, etc. I put it in a plastic tub, and just rinse till it is clear, mixing it around as much as possible. Takes awhile, as has been said. Just did a bunch this weekend.