adding more sand-Sand-3reef Forums

monkey · 01-21-2007, 12:50 PM

im want to add some sand to actually both my tanks and i was wordering if this could be detrimental to the tanks...

. everything seems to be going good and i dont want to make a human error. (i'd rather things go wrong naturally lol) anyway, does anyone have any opinions on this.

also if i could add, would a live or dry sand be better. i wanted to add some fine sand to one tank and more of a crushed coral to the pico for my shrimp goby

Birchell · 01-21-2007, 01:42 PM

As long as you dont just dump like 3 inches in there youll be fine. The bacteria, worms and stuff will move back up. Just put the sand in a cup or bucket with some water in in, the slowly put the cup in the tank so you dont make a sand storm. Then you can slowly pure the sand in the tank close to the bottom. Hope this helps,

Michael

monkey · 01-21-2007, 03:32 PM

you think the sand will go through another cycle?

coral reefer · 01-21-2007, 04:41 PM

NO! THERE WON'T BE A CYCLE. You probably won't be adding enough and there shouldn't be any die off!

I would just make sure that you don't cover up the existing gravel as you will suffocate and cut off the oxygen transport and kill beneficial bacteria-then you may have a problem with your water parameters! Birchell had good points!

monkey · 01-21-2007, 04:47 PM

wow that was enthusiastic! thank you guys! now i just have to find some fine sand...

Birchell · 01-22-2007, 10:23 PM

Petco has some fine white sand for like 7 bucks per 10 lbs. I used a few in my tank and love it. Just make sure you rinse it gooooood!! Im still taking alittle sand out through my filters. I dont think super fine is good for gobies is it. Argamax makes a special substrate that will be great for gobies. It is a mix of fine, and simi-fine, lol. I put 40lbs of the live special grade with 60lbs of the super fine white from petco, and it has worked out great. Hope this helps.

turbo4603 · 01-22-2007, 10:32 PM

Monkey, when i find myself having hard times keeping my calcium at a decent level, i add a couple of pounds of aragonite sand through a pvc tube to the bottom of the tank so it penetrates the existing sandbed a litle, but doesnt stirr up the sand into your water. This has always helped me maintain my calcium very stable, and i yet only have 2-3 inches of sand. I have always added live sand. Rinsing the sand is always good for established tanks.

Birchell · 01-23-2007, 12:26 AM

cool idea!!

monkey · 01-23-2007, 10:12 PM

great idea!

monkey · 01-23-2007, 10:13 PM

also i found that but the problem is that the bag they had was full of holes and instead of weighing 10 pounds it weighed like 3... lol