Hi Mike:
Three problems with collecting live sand:
1) It's harder than you think. Often, by the time the sample is in the bag or canister, the critters have all fled --so scoop WITH the transport container, quick and sure and cap it pronto.
2) Preventing a crash during transport. Depending on the biodensity in the sample, the sudden upheaval in oxygen distribution within the sand, and the standard stresses of stagnant-water transport, can lead to die-off. Heck, worms can die when their tubes are crushed by shifting, heavy sand --so judge the transport quantity accordingly.
3) Unintended introduction of hostile species. You may introduce creatures that are active predators of the livestock you wish to care for. Isopods of Family Cirolanidae are a much-discussed danger to fish. And of course, there's the issue of polluted water/sand near the shore.
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Now if you do harvest sand, have a very clean plastic basin ready at home for 'quarantining' the sand: basically, you want to put the sand in, and gradually blend in some properly-prepared saltwater to the transport water. Aeration of the water will help disperse any gases from normal respiration and any die-off. With a lens and a white dish brimming with saltwater for viewing sand samples, you can check for signs of life.
If it's live, and if you're reasonably sure you don't have any pests on board, then you can introduce the sand by the cupful into the aquarium.
Frankly, I think it's easier and safer (though possibly somewhat more expensive) to create a sandbed from scratch, using live starter kits to seed your bed.
hth
horge!
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