adding sand...

[czieler]

Is there a way to add sand to an established tank w/out causing a big cloud of sand to be in there for a few days?

I'd like to add more sand to my 46 gallon..but didn't really want to cause a 'sand plume' in there...

 

[Sk8r]

yes---wet the sand with tank water in a baggie or drinking glass, lower to the bottom carefully, tip out, then stir in very slightly, not disturbing the old sand, but gently encouraging the top level to mix in its bacteria into the new sand. Do this only in patches. You don't want an algae bloom. Remember, too, that the reason the dust flies on new sand is that the bacterial film that holds it to the substrate does not yet exist. So don't overload it.

 

[mbdave]

I like to put sand in while performing a water change. Just put the sand in a bucket with water, raise the bucket higher than the tank, and start a siphon and siphon the sand right into the tank. If you run out of water before sand just add somemore water. With the siphon hose you can direct the sand to the places you want it.

Chow,
Dave

 

[mikeatjac]

Attach a filter sock to your drain line and in short time all is clear.