Adding sand back into established tank?

[Sculpin]

Several months back I started slowly removing the sand from tank to see if a bare bottom would be less work with my setup. It looks like it's about the same as far as upkeep, and the bottom of my tank isn't very attractive, so I'm wondering what people recommend I do to add the sand back in?

I've kept all the sand wet in salt water, but it's been sitting in a big tub for several months now. Do I need to clean or wash the sand before adding back into the tank? It was live sand when I took it out, but I wasn't sure if it would still be good (i.e. live) and if there was a way to tell. If it's still live, I don't want to wash all the goodness off.

Also, I wasn't sure how quickly I can add the sand back in. The tank is 120 gallon, and I'm guessing I shouldn't add it all back in at once. I was thinking of adding some back in just before a water change to help clean up the water, I just wasn't sure how much. Is 1 gallon OK? Can I add more? My tank has almost all softies so it should handle changes a little better than more delicate corals.

Thanks, Sculpin

 

[Jim Hart]

It sounds dangerous to me depending on amonia levels from die off, cant really say anything other than that.

 

[aquariumdebacle]

Add a handful everyday and there should be no problem. Leave a quarter to a third out and add new. Pull out that much and add new every year.

 

[ac7av]

It seems to me if you have a bio base in the tank capable of maintaining it now that putting dead sand back in would not cause any problem even if you put it all in at once. I would think it would just add to the filtration and become live again in no time but the sand would have to be clean no dead stuff floating around in it. I don’t think I would try putting back in what you have with out cleaning it. Just my thoughts on that.