[BubbaWPB]

OK... so what would be the pros and cons of going to the beach with a cooler and getting some sand from just under the water level at low tide instead of buying live sand in a bag?

I've been told if I do it, to rinse it well with saltwater to get potential pollutants out. What about parasites?

Is this worth the trouble or would it be better just to use the "off the shelf" stuff?

[romunov]

I've been told if I do it, to rinse it well with saltwater to get potential pollutants out.

Won't be live sand anymore, huh?
Parasites are always a possibility.

Off the shelf stuff is next to useless regarding LIVE sand. It's perfectly good as a sand, though.

[Reefland]

Buy some Carib-Sea and be done with it. It's hard on the pocket, but easier for every other reason.

[showfish]

Just be careful Bubba, Florida beaches have lots of tar and petroleum by-products from time to time. I did collect live reef sand once, however this was down in the Keys about 4 miles off-shore, in about 35 feet of water. IMO, I would not recommend collecting off the beaches however.

[chugga]

I have used beach sand in both my 10 gal nano, and now in my 40 gal tank. Beaches down my way are pretty clean still, no huge population...YET. I also use natural seawater, but I buy that from my LFS. At 10 cents per litre (Quart) it's hardly worth collecting myself anyway. So far I haven't run into any parasite probs...well at least not that I know of! lol

[BubbaWPB]

Thanks, showfish... wanted the voice of experience. With the price of gas, it would be cheaper to do the carib-sea than it would to drive to the keys, rent a boat, blah blah blah.... and the pollution bothered me more than anything.

Chugga, I get NSW here at 50 cents a gallon.... and it's been filtered through UV to kill all the potential parasites. I can't get salt mix that cheap.