Sterilizing sand?

Discussion in 'Sand' started by mdbostwick, Feb 22, 2015.

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  1. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    So when i do WCs I siphon the cyano off the sand bed and quite a bit of sand comes with. Since i know this sand has cyano on it I was wondering if there is something I can do to kill everything in the sand. I have seen some have used bleach/water solution and others have boiled but mostly i have found people advising to just get new sand. It just seems like a waste to pay for new sand if i can somehow clean the small amount of sand i am siphoning.

    So i am just wondering what methods work, what doesn't work, drawbacks from methods, etc.

    TIA
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    You can rinse it thoroughly in fw, and just let it stand and dry for a couple days. Sterilizing is just a waste of time, you're going to run into cyano again if the conditions are right regardless, you can not avoid it. Any frags, rocks....air all can carry the spores.
     
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  4. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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    Just rinse the sand in more saltwater. I did this for months when I was combating my cyano issues. Sterilizing your sand is gonna just make you go backwards. I would siphon the patches of cyano and keep using the same bucket while siphoning water out of the tank and stirring it up with my hand and dump the water. I would repeat a few times and then put the sand back into the tank. After being persistent I have zero cyano on my sand bed. I did this for 6 months roughly so be patient and keep diligent on nutrient export. IMO, sterilizing your sand is a bad idea for what your trying to accomplish.
     
  5. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    For the small amount of sand to which you're referring, I don't believe sterilizing would be harmful, but as stated, most likely a waste of time. If you insist, a mild bleach/water mix will suffice. Rinse well and allow to dry prior to using. I highly recommend AGAINST boiling anything. Many algaes and other organisms release toxins and/or secondary metabolites when disturbed; these can be released into the atmosphere in the form of vapor when boiled, and may be harmful or even potentially fatal if inhaled.
     
  6. mdbostwick

    mdbostwick Vlamingii Tang

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    So thorough rinsing and let it dry out? I may just save up the sand, which i have been screening out the CC from, and dry it out when the warm weather comes back, if it comes back. Ohio weather sucks.
     
  7. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    I'll second the weather comment! I probably would just rinse and let dry as well and then add back in.
     
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  9. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Yes, that will work.

    So does MD weather... :(