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I am currently down on vacation on the east coast of
Florida, and the sand on the beach looks as if it would make a nice aquarium substrate. It is not your "typical" beach sand...it is more of a brownish terra-cotta color and ive noticed that it is composed almost 100% of shell matter.

I lately have been thinking of getting a bigger tank sometime in the near future when i have a little more $$$, ..for african cichlids....because im starting to miss the yellow labs i used to have. so I think this substrate would look nice..and it would save me some money.

Do you guys think that this would work out, as long as i collect it carefully to make sure that it is clean and then I boil it for a little while? It looks really nice...similar to crushed coral, ..and it looks really natural so i would like to use it if i can.

~*~ Caviar? no thanks! ~*~

It should be fine for African Cichlids, just as long as you rinse it really well (or boil it for added security).

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

ok, thats what i thought. thanks for reassuring me.

(*gets up off lazy butt and walks to beach to collect sand*)

~*~ Caviar? no thanks! ~*~

Don't want to rain on your parade, but in some areas it's illegal to take sand from the beaches. Don't know if that's the case where you are at, but you may want to check before removing it. I wouldn't want you to get a ticket for doing so.

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

If you are allowed to collect it good luck. But I would give a very good washing even a very fine seive before you take it home also give it a good boiling just to be on the safe side.

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Keith

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I'm in Fernandina, on the East Coast, and we have sand like that, not sure where you're staying though. It's illegal to take the sand or plants from the dunes, but I don't think taking the sand on the beach is really a problem. Yeah, I'd boil it, there are all kinds of little critters living in it. I have freshwater tanks, so I don't use it for that, but I do use the sand for my hermit crabs.

Yeah, im at ormond beach, right north of daytona beach. I dont think it is illegal. i know what u mean about the dunes, but i think that it is ok from the beach....i suppose i could just sneak out there at night...the beach is literally across the street from our house.

but im thinking twice, cuz i hate cleaning stuff. i think ill take the lazy way out and just buy some..lol. i have been collecting some nice coquina rocks though.

~*~ Caviar? no thanks! ~*~

so im using the beach sand now and my fish LOVES it. i got a kenyi cichlid to live alone in a 10 gallon, and she digs in the sand and it cleans very well too. and looks VERY nice.

~*~ Caviar? no thanks! ~*~