Sand Question?

[tomlando]

I'm going to be swapping out a 30 long for a 55. The 30 has about a 1" live sandbed. In the 55 I am going to add another 2-3" of non-live sand. Where should I place the live sand? Bottom, middle or top?

 

[thor32766]

i would say the top, so you dont choke out the live sand.

 

[cschweitzer]

Put in both of them and mix it all around, your water may not be happy, but you will not leave deposits from the old sand in the new sand. Kick it up a little and let it settle, but make sure to clean the water before any real transfer

 

[tomlando]

Craig, Wouldn't that kill off a lot of the established bacteria? I was thinking of puting in the new sand and making a valley in which I would put in the live sand. I don't really know, but I thought that might help it get established quicker. No?

 

[cschweitzer]

Don't really know about the bacterial die off, but this worked for me. Bacteria will be lost with almost anything that happens in a tank, but putting necrotic sand in a tank will kill off fish, corals, LR, etc. Bacteria are strong and will survive to come back even stronger. Besides, your trying to mix it in the other sand to culture it. May not be the best way, it all comes down to what works for you.