can you use beach sand for a FW tank?

[lesleyanndunn]

The answer is probably no, but thought I would ask anyway

If you rinse it well until all the salt and dirt is away?
Some have suggested boiled, putting in sun to dry, then boil again?
Or to bleach it to kill nasties, then plenty of dechlorinator to help get rid of bleach and plenty of rinsing?

Or not worth the hassle?

I also read it can affect the ph and hardness of your water?

[RTR]

Beach sand may not be pure silica sand. It is likely to be contaminated by other minerals which will affect the water chemistry. It is not worth the processing even for BW oor SW IMHO.

[Mac Myers]

+ 1

I thought I posted in some detail on this. Maybe I hate save instead.
You can but since the advent of readily available, "relatively" (unless filling a large tank) cheap substrates no one does for the above mentioned reasons.

[lesleyanndunn]

I thought so!
I just bought playsand and some fine black gravel to mix in for a bit of contrast!

[Mac Myers]

Good idea!
I like Tahitian Moon Sand.... but that stuff almost had me living under a bridge when I filled a 100 Gal (379 ltr) tank.

[lesleyanndunn]

Good idea!
I like Tahitian Moon Sand.... but that stuff almost had me living under a bridge when I filled a 100 Gal (379 ltr) tank.