Using old substrate

[SirFragalot]

Hello all.

I'm trying to find the cheapest and easiest way to go about this.

After breaking down my 75 last year, my substrate has been sitting in an open rubbermade bin right outside of my shed open to all the elements. I was hoping to rinse some of it, about 2" worth for the 58 i'm setting up. So yesterday, after picking a layer of leaves out of it, I did a test rinse and it took FOREVER to just rinse a couple of lbs to where the water was clear. What i'm doing is using a 3 1/2 gallon bucket. Filling that halfway with dirty substrate, inserting the garden hose, stir up, dump water, stir up, dump water until it's clear. Then dumping that into clean storage buckets. Is there an easier way?? Or should I not use it at all and use something else?? I was trying to avoid spending any money on sand.

 

[adesimone1]

Go bare bottom

 

[SirFragalot]

Go bare bottom

Really? hmmmm... I've never had a BB tank before. Pro's and cons?

 

[adesimone1]

I think that would much better than using old sand.

 

[Hockeynut]

I would get new or go bare if u like that look, that old stuff might leech out phosphate a month after being in your tank and think of how bad that could be

 

[SirFragalot]

I think that would much better than using old sand.

Even when mega rinsed?

 

[SirFragalot]

I would get new or go bare if u like that look, that old stuff might leech out phosphate a month after being in your tank and think of how bad that could be

Yeah, i'm not a huge fan of the look of bare bottom. I suppose I could didtch the old substrate and at least get the tank running. I could add new substrate at a later date?

 

[adesimone1]

Good Idea

 

[Hockeynut]

Yea I have to have sand in my tanks, I'm sure bare bottom is better but it just doesn't seem right to be imulating a piece of the ocean and not have sand.. If you had some time you could rinse it all then put it in a container with a pump and check it in a couple weeks for phosphate or nitrate but its to cheap for all that work IMO

 

[jgraz]

If you can get out to Hidden Reef they have sand pretty cheap as compared to other stores. If I remember correctly I picked up the 20Lb bag of Fiji Pink Live sand for $21. They also have options for Non-Live sand as well and bit cheaper.

 

[mnat]

I would be real careful with that dirty sand. If it has been exposed tithe elements for a while who knows what is in there. Look at Marco rocks website, I believe they have cheap sand too.

 

[SirFragalot]

I would be real careful with that dirty sand. If it has been exposed tithe elements for a while who knows what is in there. Look at Marco rocks website, I believe they have cheap sand too.

I'm ditching the idea of using it. I have to at least get the tank running over the next day or so, so I can transfer whatever I have in the temp holding tank to it since the holding tank (20L) is being made into my sump. Then i'll shop or see of anyone has any substrate laying around.

Thanks to all for the input.