How to clean dirty All Purpose Sand and get tapwater contaminants out of it

[Tina734]

I recently got a bag of All Purpose Sand. However the sand has been outside all year with holes in the bag. I washed it throughly with tap water but want to be sure the drying process in oven will eliminate any chemicals from the tapwater.
*Note - I had to go this route because EVERY single store around me is OUT of Sand!!

[JoeHermits]

Chlorine evaporates on its own. Heavy metals and other contaminates will remain but aren’t usually a concern in the substrate.


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[wodesorel]

Chlorine and chloramine are the concern in tap water, but it really only has an effect when they've been submerged and their gills are underwater. I use straight tap water in my substrate often. Chlorine evaporates off in a day or two. Chloramine will do the same if EE is also used because the pH drop transforms it into chlorine and ammonia, but even in its stable form its not really concentrated enough to do any harm through the air.

[Links]

Also for whatever it’s worth, ammonia (NH3) is also highly volatile.