Can You Add New Sand???

[lunchie]

Okay, my tank has been up for just about 2 years. Things are going quite well. We have had sand as our substrate for about a year and we love it however, with water changes and cleanings over the last year we have lost some of the sand because it is impossible to clean without some of the sand coming up through the syphon.

Anyhow, my question is can I add new Sand to the tank and if so is there a certain way to do???

Thanks in advance for you input!

 

[DonW]

Rinse in real good then dry it back out. Pour it down a tube or long funnel all the way to the bottom where you want it.

Don

 

[mmkeeper]

Thats what I did, don't add more than about 3/4 in depth at a time. You can expect your water to cloud up for a few hours afterwards.

 

[Elmo18]

I would do as DonW has stated.

IMO, I would only add at MAX 1/2" depth at a time, and wait another two weeks before adding more.

If you do not do this, the fauna at the oxygenated first inch of your current sand will suffocate, and may die.

Best,
Ilham

 

[lunchie]

Is it okay to use live sand? If not then what should I use?

Thanks Again,
Debbie

 

[dnjan]

I use Don(W)'s method. Bought the funnel as Schuck's (auto-supply store), cut the end off a bit, and jammed it into some 1" inside-diameter tubing.

I use new sand (not live sand). If it "clumps" in the tubing as you are adding it, lift the funnel/tube assembly up-and-down a bit. The water flowing in and out of the bottom of the tube will wash the sand clump out.

I usually add sand to only a part of the tank at a time, keeping to the maximum of 1/2 to 3/4" thickness.

Don't forget to blow the dust off the rocks the next day.

 

[SueT]

Debbie, I used the live sand to add to my 180g and it works fine. Just add it like has been suggested. I needed to add it for the exact same reason as you do..

 

[Haole]

I’ve also seen suggestions for a bag method. In your situation where you’re getting live sand from your lfs or where ever, just slowly sink the entire bag (opened so there’s no air trapped in it of course) to the bottom of the tank. Slit the entire bottom of the bag with a razor blade and then slowly pull on the bag allowing the sand to exit the opening. This should keep the cloudiness to a minimum. That’s good for you that you can afford to use live sand since this will add to the biodiversity of your sand bed. The cheaper way that I’ve seen mentioned is to get dry sand and soak it in fresh saltwater made from ro/di water for a few days in a sealed-devoid of all air, ziplock bag. Then do the same as described above.
Be sure to do it a little at a time like what was already said. hth

 

[Brenden]

Add sand to only 1/3 to 1/2 of your tank. Wait a week or two and do the other part. You do not want to cover your whole SB at once with new sand.

 

[lunchie]

Okay, I really APPRECIATE all the input! Knock on wood I have had real good luck with my tank and I always get awesome advice and support from all of you! With that said....Here is my question/concern...

I love the idea of slowly floating the bag of sand to the bottom...but all posts recommend adding the sand slowly...I purchased 20 pounds of live sand and it is all in one big bag...Would it be safe to float the entire bag and empty the entire bag at once and then over several days spread the sand out over tank?

If not, once you open a bag of live sand how long can it be kept without being put in the tank before it would "go bad"?

Thanks again Everyone...I always get so nervous when I do anything major to the tank and to me this is major and I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row and don't crash my tank!

Thanks
Debbie

 

[Haole]

Oh so this is pre packaged live sand that you bought? First off, I’m not a deep sand bed expert so you might want to wait for more comments on this... I had a shallow sand bed for a few years and now it’s down to next to nothing... Just a small patch for my cerith’s to play in. All I know is from what I’ve read on here and other sites about sand beds, and from that I’ve gathered that those pre packaged live sand bags aren’t as bio diverse as one might think. Frankly there considered a waist of money. You get more bang for your buck if you use dry sand and a few handfuls of live sand from a few different tanks. Does the store you got this from have a return policy? Maybe you can take this back and get dry sand instead and possibly a few pounds of their live sand from their tanks. If you still want to use this sand, I think once you open it you’ll have to use all of it or it will begin to degrade and go foul. Here’s where I’m not totally sure about and suggest that you wait for other peoples input, but with 20lbs I think you’ll be border line okay if you mounded it at one end of the tank and then slowly dispersed it throughout over a period of time. Hopefully others with more experience with this will jump in to help you out.

 

[burning2nd]

my sand has gotten less since the setup (cleaning) and i will have 2 add sand soon as well..... Ill tag along

 

[lunchie]

Rob,
I didn't realize that pre-packaged live sand was "not as good"...I have always used it and never had any problems...but I guess now it is a problem because figuring out the best way to add more to the tank is becoming diffulcult...I just don't want to cause a problem in the tank and unfortunately I can't return it...I wouldn't mind taking a loss on the purchase but I have no LFS that sells live sand that is why I have always went with prepackaged. With that said, it would cost me a fortune to purchase small amounts at a time online to slowly add to the the tank...Maybe I should just go barebottom...But I hate to do that becuase I have a Pink Spotted Watchman Goby who loves to play in the sand...Oh well, it is always something and maybe some more people will chime in and give me more input! Thanks a bunch again!

Also, what is dry sand? Maybe I should consider going that route...

Deb

 

[Haole]

Bumping this back up for you Deb...
By dry sand I mean this kind of sand;
http://www.carib-sea.com/pages/products/marine/substrate/aragonite.html
I’d recommend the Aragamax sugar sized sand, especially since you have a goby.
You might be able to find this at your local PetSmart; I know mine sometimes carry it.
I hope some other people will jump in on this...

 

[MikeS]

when I made my sandbed, I added a cup or two of rinsed sand every day slowly over time...I saw no spike in nutrient levels, and the mircofauna were just fine also...addidng sand is not a problem, but the slower, the better

MikeS