seeding sand - how long can it be out of the tank

[jb61264]

recently helped a friend move a 180 reef he bought from another guy in a city about 50 miles away. The tank had been established for about 4 years but alot of the sandbed had become "calcified".

I had recommend my friend not use the sand to begin with anyway, but we saved a small container of it to "seed" his new sandbed with. Problem is, we forgot about it in the container and it has been sitting for three days in a small bucket with tank water.

Should we discard the sand now or will it still be good to use to seed his new sandbed with?...I'm thinking I just grabe a cup of my sandbed for him now

[kgross]

I would just grab a cup of your sandbed. in three days, a lot of the life in the sand would have died.

Kim

[lordofthereef]

Agreed. Just share some of your sand with your friend, or ask in a local club.