Can I add LS during cycle while animals in it?

[Dricker18]

Can I gently add live sand to the tank, obviously not going to bury anything, but I wanted to make my sandbed a bit deeper. Right now I have a 36 gallon bow with approximately 15lbs of LR, 19lbs of dry rock, and 20lbs of live sand. I wanted to add a bit more live sand to the tank.

My tank is just about finished with its cycle, I was going to go to LFS today to MAYBE add a clownfish or 2 , was definately planning on getting a shrimp and some more snails as well as a small bag of sand to put in some parts of the tank, before I put the fish in.

 

[gone fishin]

I think now would be a great time to add some extra sand while the tank is cycling. I would hold off on adding any livestock until the tank has completely cycled. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Dricker18]

Ok, well I went to the LFS two days ago and they said my tank is just about done there is a few remaining nitrites.

Would it be a terrible idea to add a shrimp? I just want something in the tank that is more interesting to look at then snails and a nocturnal hermit, but I obviously don't want to kill anything.

 

[ericarenee]

i would add it before you get any fish for sure ..

 

[Dricker18]

Ok, but what about a shrimp they are pretty hardy. I also am getting a HOB refuge/skimmer which I wanna put some LS and LR shards in it. With a little bit of sand onto the bottom around some rocks.

 

[gone fishin]

Inverts are typically more sensitive than fish. I personally would wait until the cycle is complete, but it is your tank and your money.

 

[Sk8r]

You're pushing much too fast. Give it five days of trying (without success) to provoke ammonia with addition of fishfood, then you're up for one crab, one snail, no fish. Set up your qt now and get your fish but put him in THAT, not into your tank.