Re-using / washing sand bed

[copenhagen_cowboy@live.co]

Originally Posted by Default

Ive just rinsed about 95% of the sand with tap water then RODI in a giant seive let it dry and added it back with the 5% as a seed stock.

Have you had any issues with algae or spikes in any other levels in the months after? I have read that if you don't get it clean enough 7-9 months later is when you will notice the balance crashing.


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[Default]

I did have a nitrate spike out of the blue at about 9 months. It went to 15ppm in a week and took six 50% water changes to get back down to 0.2.
It could have been caused by the sand now that I think about it.
I think most of the bad stuff is in the sediment that is rinsed out. If I did it again I would buy new sand the smell is awful I was gagging while scooping and rinsing.