heres a link to a good "how to" for cleaning sand. The pictures are gone but its good enough you wont need them

http://www.piranha-fury.com/pfury/index.php?showtopic=56310

As for sand, alot of people have used river sand or playground sand without problems, but you will have to wash the crap out of it. And some people boil it also, just for good measure

 

you have to make sure the sand doesn't contain calsium carbonate (calsite). This could drop your ph

 

rinse the sand very thuroughly (spelt it wrong)....using a bucket...making all the lighter debris rinse out etc....rinse rinse and more rinse....boil it if you want aswell

 

ok thanks u so it won't harm my sanchezi ok then thanks

 

Personally I won't use sand or gravel from pond,river,etc...you just never know what is in there, what been there, what have or had been there.

Sand from home depot or leow are not that exspensive and it look very natural look as well. But that just me.

 

Using sand from a river would not be a wise idea, and it would probably be a pain in the ass to clean properly.

*Topic Moved to Tank and Equipment Forum*

 

make sure u boil it then go threw the DIY sand cleanin thing