[Saltwaterhobby]

Hi guys, I was wondering if the sand near the beach is considered live sand for a saltwater aquarium?

[John Hamilton]

I don't see why not, it would be full of bacteria and such, although I have not heard of anyone using it.

[wozza]

just watch out for nasty worms and parrasties when i go down to my beach and have a dig about in the rock pools for any intresting life, i allways see small worms and flea looking things,

[Saltwaterhobby]

Yea, it seems like it's too good to be true because a bag of sand will about 30 bucks. Maybe those sand carry pest that may kill your off one's inhibitants but other than that I don't see a reason why, it's abundant and free. Anyways, anyone else have any other info or reasons why these sand should not be use in an aquarium other than the ones that had been discussed?

[Samper]

I would shy away from it. You don't want to bring in pollutants or any more problems than you will already have with a new tank. Also depending on the type of sand it may not be calcium based and could contain silicates.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Saltwaterhobby

Hi guys, I was wondering if the sand near the beach is considered live sand for a saltwater aquarium?

Sand below the low tide line would be live sand.

Are you planning a saltwater aquarium dedicated to temperate species or a tropical aquarium? Water temperatures off the coast of California are temperate, not tropical.

Much of the beneficial bacteria would survive at typical reef aquarium temperatures (upper 70's to low 80's) but most of the other life would not. Those same beneficial bacteria would colonize a newly set up dead sandbed in short order anyway.

The live sand that is imported from places like Fiji in the South Pacific is aragonite sand that is collected just below the low tide line. All of the sand off the coast of California is quartz sand. There is also a very real possibility that this sand will contain petrochemical contaminants. When I lived in Monterey some 25 years ago, I was always saddened at the sight of oil slicks washing up on the shores in Big Sur. There would be gummy tar-like deposits blackening the sand at the tide line. And this was in an area that was sparsely populated.

I don't think I would bother collecting live sand from the beach in California. Live sand from Key West would be a different story. And even there, it's sub-tropical, not tropical. But at least most of the critters would survive, especially if you collected in mid-summer when the water temps are warmer. There is more life in Florida Keys sand in the summer months. And it's aragonite sand.

[Saltwaterhobby]

Ninong you just summarize it all, thank you, it was a big help. I used to think that sand from the ocean anywhere is just the same and that it could be use in a aquarium. The sand I was wanting to collect is in Monteray, CA. Thanks for clearing things up for me.

Oh, by the way Ninong, when you was living in Monteray, did you ever notice or seen any type of green or geenish anomeone in a rock-pool place near the shore?

[Ninong]

I can't remember ever spotting any anemones in any rock pools when I lived in Monterey (1980-1981). After I left Monterey and moved back to the Bay Area, the Monterey Bay Aquarium was built and when I returned to visit, I did see lots of anemones there, but I don't ever remember seeing any along the shore. Most of my beach wanderings in those days was done between Carmel Highlands and the Bixby Bridge, although I did venture all the way down to Morro Bay a couple of times. And I guess I should add that I did wander along the rocky shore in Pacific Grove from time to time -- the area along the golf course before you get to Asilomar Beach. I used to like to watch the deer graze on the golf course there.

I have heard of people using sand from Monterey for their marine aquariums but I don't think I would. I prefer aragonite sand, for one thing, and I wouldn't want to risk adding unknown contaminants to my tank by collecting sand from the beach in California.

[Saltwaterhobby]

Yea, I spotted some anonemes near lover point beach, down 8th street, if you can recall the place. I don't know if that their nature haibat or they were carry away by the waves to that place, but it a rock pool place. I was going to take one home, but like you said, I don't want to comtinate my tank, but they are surely beautiful.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Saltwaterhobby

I was going to take one home, but like you said, I don't want to comtinate my tank, but they are surely beautiful.

Don't forget, the water temperature there never hits 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It averages 53-56 F depending on the time of year. It may hit 60 or 61 degrees temporarily in El Nino years. You would have had to have a very powerful chiller to maintain the proper temperature in your aquarium for this creature to survive.