I want to start a 30 gal saltwater tank. Can I use the sand and water from the beach near my house?

Answer 1

Yep! that is the only way we do it on the coast in Florida. I have a winter home on the Sebastian inlet. When I head down in the winter, I start my tank. I walk 70 feet with my bucket and grab my sand......water etc.

I walk the private shore line and collect cridders small rays and other interesting things and put them into my tank. I fish a lot so some of the smaller fish (especially puffers) I put into my tank. They all live fine and happily. Even live rock, oysters conchs.

Just be sure you know what can live with what.

Believe it or not this is the best way to set up your tank. I usually bring home a couple of gallons of salt water and pour them into my home tanks to "recharge " them. I have accidently brought home feather dusters, hermit crabs, baby conchs, ocean trout, sand fleas and small shrimp.

The ocean is nothing but a rolling pile of microorganisms.

Oh yes, before I leave in the spring, I return everything I have taken back to the lagoon water where I got it.

Answer 2

If you dive or snorkel, get the sand from out a ways in the water. The sand on beaches and close to the beach will have gas and other pollutants from boats and such in it. I used to live in Florida, and thought that would be an easy and cheap way to get sand as well :) Not worth the risk, especially considering how expensive SW fish are....

Answer 3

Possibly the sand in the water is better than the sand on the beach...it should be cleaner...but perhaps the type of fish your getting need the nutrients that sand from a particular environment would be better...if you cant afford to get the sand at the aquarium, then you can't afford the fish either...they are too espensive and you are taking a risk by not planning to do it right in the first place.

Answer 4

Until some years ago this was the only way to do it. But the answers here cautioning about contaminants is correct. Beware of pollution. The bacteria is usually beneficial to the tank. However, there is only a benefit in doing this if you're going to choose things that need the same lighting and temp as in your area.

Answer 5

Never the sand at the beach has way too many micro organisms living in it which can kill your fish and contaminate every thing in the tank. Go to your pet store and get the sand that has bean sterilised and get the slat their to.

Answer 6

If your water is clean,really clean, and you have access to a boat you can use water from off-shore. As to the beach sand I'd be afraid of adding contaminants from it. If you have doubts about the cleanliness you will be money ahead to use saltwater mixes and coral sand from the pet store. Good luck.----PeeTee

Answer 7

I have collected shells and crushed them with a hammer. Sure, there were some sharp edges, but I removed them the best I could. I have that in my tank now for three years!

Sand, I would be carefull about due to comtamination.

Hope this helps!

Answer 8

As most others have said, bad idea because of the pollutants in the sand and the potential for both pollutants and harmful organisms in the water. Fish live in it, there for so do fish diseases.

MM

Answer 9

It is not recommended because of all the microorganisms living in the sand. The sand sold at the stores has been sterilized to ensure the safety of the fish.

Answer 10

I don't see why not...but I wouldn't know. Maybe you shouldn't, considering the chemicals and pollutants found in the ocean today. But if fish in the wild can handle them, I'll bet fish in an aquarium can too, providing that they are good quality, healthy fish from a good source. Maybe there is an immunity of some kind that wild fish have.