Adding additional substrate....

[bubblewood]

I have a a 1 year old reef. 240 gal -60.36.24.
I have Aragonite for my substrate and I want to add some Fiji pink sand to my tank. What is the best way to do this without causing any issues. Is it even possible to do? Looking for any advice. Thanks!

 

[billsreef]

Slowly

You can use piece of PVC pipe as a funnel and pour it into one corner, then spread it out. That will prevent a major dust storm...you'll still get some, but won't inadvertently bury your corals Also, I'd only add up to 1/2" depth at any one time, with a few weeks or so between additions until you reach your final depth. This allows the life in your sand bed to migrate upwards and adapt without smothering them and causing problems from a die off of sand bed fauna.

 

[jda]

If you can find it wet, it will have less dust. The bio-alive stuff is a bunch of garbage IMO but the lack of dust is worth buying sand in a bag with water.

 

[crn005]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-XB0bwtZh8

I just found this is another thread. Apparently, you just load a plastic bottle full of dry sand, let it fill up with water, turn it upside down, and it comes out simple tell clean. The dust gets stuck in the bottle. Genius.

 

[Lavoisier]

Very cool...but one will need patience.

 

[davidfrances]

You have a big enough tank, so you can simply take the entire bag, unopened, and place it in your tank. It will sink to the bottom, then you slit the bottom of the bag with a razor blade. The sand will drain out minimizing the dust.

 

[Savant]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-XB0bwtZh8

I just found this is another thread. Apparently, you just load a plastic bottle full of dry sand, let it fill up with water, turn it upside down, and it comes out simple tell clean. The dust gets stuck in the bottle. Genius.

I cant believe this actually worked but I just tried it this weekend and it worked perfectly. The only dust in the tank came after all the sand was out of the bottle and i squeezed the bottle slightly when inverting it to the up position to remove it causing a puff of dust. LOL amazing how much that little puff affected the clarity of the water, nothing major but defiantly not crystal for 30 min or so