adding sand to sand bed

[SurrealSerenity]

I have a 29 gallon oceanic biocube with lots of live rock, 4 fish, corals, and invertebrates. I used two small bags of live sand when setting up my tank and I would like to add more sand, preferably a more fine sand. I do not want a deep sand bed, I don't know how deep defines a deep sand bed. Mine barely covers the bottom of the tank. I would like suggestions on the best way to add sand, most recommended sand and whether or not this is a bad idea?
Thanks!

 

[notjhh]

If you're using dead/dry sand rinse it well in RO/DI water to keep the dust down and just add it in a thin layer all over. Unless you really pour it on there you're probably not going to see a nitrate spike or any die off from your existing sand bed, but it doesn't hurt to do a test anyway.

If you're using live sand do the same but without the rinse, and be prepared to do a water change due to die off.

A "deep sand bed" usually is more than four inches deep (though some say a minimum of six inches); any less than that and you won't get any of the denitrifying benefits of one. Here's a sandbed depth calculator: http://www.garf.org/calculators/SandBedCalculator.asp

 

[outy]

I would buy new sand of your choosing.

next time you do a water change save the water and rinse a few ziplock baggies full of and in the water so you dont get a dust storm.

use the ziplock bags to lower the sand in and dump in where you need spreading a thin layer.

id give the tank a week or so to adjust and if you want to add more on your next water change have at it.

 

[SurrealSerenity]

I was thinking of not using live sand, and just taking a pvc small hose and putting it through rinsed with RO/DI water and slowly adding it to the bottom of the tank without removing anything? I want to avoid a sand storm and hurting whats in my tank. If I rinse it can I add it while damp?

 

[notjhh]

I was thinking of not using live sand, and just taking a pvc small hose and putting it through rinsed with RO/DI water and slowly adding it to the bottom of the tank without removing anything? I want to avoid a sand storm and hurting whats in my tank. If I rinse it can I add it while damp?

The PVC hose is a neat idea, I'll have to try that next time I add sand. You can add it in there damp, though in that small of a tank you might want to make sure your salinity doesn't drop. Use old tank water as outy suggested to avoid it.

 

[SurrealSerenity]

okay I'll do that. I just did a water change and wanted to do this sometime this week before I get new coral. But I don't want my salinity to drop. Is there high risk of some cloudiness hurting my coral and fish? I also read somewhere that you can take a big empty soda bottle and cut the bottom off, fill it up with sand and then take the top off and squeeze it where you want it, it might be slower then the pvc hose but make less cloud. One of the main reasons I want to do this besides looks is I get algy growing at the bottom rim of the tank right above the sand and maybe with a thicker sand bed it will prevent that. If my sand bed is about 2 inches thick does that make it a deep sand bed?

 

[mike_cmu04]

The pvc idea is the best way you are going to do it without a major sandstorm.

 

[SurrealSerenity]

A "deep sand bed" usually is more than four inches deep (though some say a minimum of six inches); any less than that and you won't get any of the denitrifying benefits of one. Here's a sandbed depth calculator: http://www.garf.org/calculators/SandBedCalculator.asp

I didn't even see that oops. Thank you

 

[keithbou30]

pvc pipe is the way to go.,

 

[SurrealSerenity]

What size pvc pipe should I use? Any one recommend a certain kind or brand of fine sand that I should use?

 

[notjhh]

What size pvc pipe should I use? Any one recommend a certain kind or brand of fine sand that I should use?

Are you using live sand or the dry stuff in the bags?

If you're using live I absolutely would not use the bagged stuff; anything you get in the bag is going to have dead stuff in it and will cause a mini-cycle or nitrate spike. Visit some local fish stores and get some from them - they'll likely have a big vat of it somewhere.

I went with dead sand (Tropic Eden Miniflakes) for my DT as I was planning on keeping jawfish and possibly doing a ULNS system. I ditched the ULNS idea and have my sump full of live sand, so whatever is in the DT is live now as well. The miniflakes sand is (in my opinion) the perfect size since it's good for burrowing fish and doesn't make snowstorms.

 

[SurrealSerenity]

I'm not going to use live sand, I just want a nice fine or smooth whiteish sand to place on top of my live sand.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I'm not going to use live sand, I just want a nice fine or smooth whiteish sand to place on top of my live sand.

You should remove as much of your old sand as possible, add your fine sand then put your old sand back on top. If your pour fine sand over your existing sand you will smother your nitrifying bacteria and in the end the larger grains will find their way to the surface anyway.
Leave it for a month or so so the fine sand can become colonized by bacteria and then with your old sand on top it wll be easier to remove.

When a did my set up on my 180 I used a variety of sand grains and eventually the fine stuff winds up on the bottom glass (which is kind of cool, I like to lay on the floor and look at the worms living on the bottom glass) and the larger grains wind up on the surface.

If your avatar is your picture your hair is beautiful.

 

[SurrealSerenity]

You should remove as much of your old sand as possible, add your fine sand then put your old sand back on top. If your pour fine sand over your existing sand you will smother your nitrifying bacteria and in the end the larger grains will find their way to the surface anyway.
Leave it for a month or so so the fine sand can become colonized by bacteria and then with your old sand on top it wll be easier to remove.

When a did my set up on my 180 I used a variety of sand grains and eventually the fine stuff winds up on the bottom glass (which is kind of cool, I like to lay on the floor and look at the worms living on the bottom glass) and the larger grains wind up on the surface.

If your avatar is your picture your hair is beautiful.

I don't want to remove the live sand completely even if the bigger grains settle on the finer sand. if I take most of it out before adding the fine sand won't that cause a sand storm? What if I laid the new on top and then kind of swished it around gently? I know that will cause sand to rise but maybe less? Should I turn off my pump and powe heads so the sand settles faster?

Thank you, yes that is my picture. My hair is thick and long not easy to take care of and expensive to color or style but I refuse to cut it.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Good for you! I have always been a sucker for a girl with hair like yours.
Don't worry not hitting on you or anything, I'm probably old enough to be your grandpa.

If you turn off all pumps and use PVC there should not be a sandstorm.
Just don't want you to smother your bacteria and induce a cycle..

 

[SurrealSerenity]

haha thanks.

How can I take out most of the live sand thats already in my tank without creating a sand storm or not creating as much of a storm? Should I plan on taking out the fish? My fish are impossible to catch but I can't remove the rock. Which also brings me to the question of should I place a thin layer of something under my rock since its practically touching the bottom glass? Theres a thin layer of sand separating the rock from the glass.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

haha thanks.

How can I take out most of the live sand thats already in my tank without creating a sand storm or not creating as much of a storm? Should I plan on taking out the fish? My fish are impossible to catch but I can't remove the rock. Which also brings me to the question of should I place a thin layer of something under my rock since its practically touching the bottom glass? Theres a thin layer of sand separating the rock from the glass.

If there isn't that much a siphon hose should pull it out with the water, or is it too coarse?
If so just drag a small net along the bottom and scoop it out that way.

Rock touching the bottom glass shouldn't be a problem. Lots of people put their rock in first and then their sand because they don't want a rock slide caused by shifting sand.

 

[outy]

the less you mess with the tank the better.

theres nothing wrong with adding thin layers of sand, nitrifying bacteria is anarobic [no oxygen] so adding sand does nothing harfull plus it sa small tank that does not rely much on your sandbed anyway.

just add washed sand slowly in a thin layer and enjoy.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

the less you mess with the tank the better.

theres nothing wrong with adding thin layers of sand, nitrifying bacteria is anarobic [no oxygen] so adding sand does nothing harfull plus it sa small tank that does not rely much on your sandbed anyway.

just add washed sand slowly in a thin layer and enjoy.

Sorry my friend but nitrifying are highly aerobic. De-nitrifying bacteria are anaerobic.

While adding a very thin layer is fine, smothering your existing colonies is not.

 

[outy]

yep you got me on spelling, De-nitrifying is what I ment.

My only point is on a small tank like this that is not sand bed dependant you dont need to overthink it or get to technical.

I just added a inch in a few places on my current tank and there was not one measurable change in my tank that rely's on its DSB so I think Surreal will be fine with out having to tear down her tank for such a small thing as adding sand. its a common practice