live live sand

[stefan.bruegeman]

Every now and then my friends and I go down to Key West for a party or two and stop by some places in the keys and go snorkeling.

I have a 24 gallon reef aquarium and the last time I was in Key West I took a 7-11 slurpie cup full of sea water and calcium sand on back on the 3 hour drive home and the only thing I noticed was a very happy Mandrin and some other new sea stars.

I am in the process of planning a 1000+ aquarium and if I do so like I have; should I be concerned about harvesting sand from the keys, and besides the legal issues of getting 1500 pounds of live sand from the keys.... Am I just going to infect my system with so many organisms that I should just establish my system with dry sand and seed it with supposedly known good sand? such as from my 24 gallon nano?

[crvz]

I would hesitate to use harvested sand. I don't think it's illegal unlike live rock or coral in florida (though surely you won't want to take my word for it), but the unknown could be a big deal. Not only pests, but possible contaminants. Unless you're going well offshore to collect it, possible runoff and other issues could really set back the new setup. I'd get a dry aragonite sand and just seed it for the new tank.

[Loverotties]

Yea ,I agree not a good ideal!

[jenglish]

Its either a very good idea or a very bad idea.... the catch is you won't know untill after you do it and fill the tank. I would stay safe.