Best way to add sand in a tank?

karlyhui · 07/25/2007, 11:33 PM

Hi thanks for reading my post.

I got around 50 pounds of sand and I want to add my establish tank with 1 inch or so sand.

I don't want to create a sand storm.

Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

flyguy7150 · 07/25/2007, 11:42 PM

put sand in cup and invert, or pvc pipe pour through there. Gonna do the cup way when i add more sand to my tank

MalHavoc · 07/26/2007, 10:37 AM

Another option is a pop bottle. Fill it with sand using a funnel, cap it, put it in the tank, and uncap near the bottom, and slowly pour the sand out.

Aquarist007 · 07/26/2007, 11:09 AM

I was thinking of doing that also---won't that disrupt the kind of cyling going on in the established sand bed?

MalHavoc · 07/26/2007, 12:05 PM

Just pour the sand on top. Disturb the existing sand as little as possible.

Aquarist007 · 07/26/2007, 12:28 PM

could that be a remedy for the slime algae I have--just bury it and the nutrients etc that it is feeding on deep into the substrate to eventually be worked on the the bacteria once established again.

MalHavoc · 07/26/2007, 12:42 PM

You'll just end up with slime on the top of the new sand. Best solve the nutrient issue first.

kevin2000 · 07/26/2007, 12:48 PM

My 02

Remember that if your current substrate is "mature" it has layers of aerobic and anoxic bacteria which live in specific zones based on the level of oxygen .. when you add substrate you change the level of oxygen and run the risk of killing off that bacteria. Many would argue that if your determined to add more sand and you should do so in thin layers added every couple of weeks which will allow the bacteria to migrate/repopulate and avoid potential problems.

Aquarist007 · 07/26/2007, 12:54 PM

my sand bed is only one inch at best so I doubt if there is any anerobic activities going on--plus the bottom is constantly bared by a "clarkie from hell"
That's why i was thinking of making the sand bed deep so i could get the benifits of some anerobic activity

Aquarist007 · 07/26/2007, 12:55 PM

my sand bed is only one inch at best so I doubt if there is any anerobic activities going on--plus the bottom is constantly bared by a "clarkie from hell"
That's why i was thinking of making the sand bed deep so i could get the benifits of some anerobic activity---plus I have a 30gal with a well established sand bed that I could get a cup or two from to seed it

karlyhui · 07/26/2007, 09:40 PM

Hi

That's the exact reason I added more sand. It seems my clowns and or messing with the sand leaving the bottom bare.

urghh... is too late I cause a sandstorm.

Hopefully it will clear soon. Should I close the filter?

thanks

Aquarist007 · 07/27/2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by karlyhui
Hi

That's the exact reason I added more sand. It seems my clowns and or messing with the sand leaving the bottom bare.

urghh... is too late I cause a sandstorm.

Hopefully it will clear soon. Should I close the filter?

thanks

close the filter?? I would think you would want to continue to run it to get rid of that excess detrius

Aquarist007 · 07/27/2007, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MalHavoc
You'll just end up with slime on the top of the new sand. Best solve the nutrient issue first.

I hear you--I am being patient and have really cut down the feeding.
Those sheets of Nori and kelp, spirulina etc---if uneaten will they increase the phosphate/nitrates in the tank?

Aquarist007 · 07/27/2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by karlyhui
Hi

That's the exact reason I added more sand. It seems my clowns and or messing with the sand leaving the bottom bare.

urghh... is too late I cause a sandstorm.

Hopefully it will clear soon. Should I close the filter?

thanks

one of the guys told me to had a heavier(coarser) substrate around the area that was being dug up--adding more sand just gives them a bigger sandbox to play in.

What i was thinking of doing was putting down the one inch layer again and over that make a small pile of rock rubble that blends in with the tank

karlyhui · 07/27/2007, 02:43 PM

Hi

I thought about putting something there also, but I didn't want to disturb there playground. Didn't want to be mean to them.

I have to see if it works after the storm clears. For some reason they seem to love the storm. Much more active.

Aquarist007 · 07/30/2007, 11:08 AM

I have had second thought about even doing that--the advantages of a refugium far outweight adding extra sand--besides you need a sandbed of 4-6 inches to be effective as a biological filter
here is a thread on the very subject with articles from Jonathan to read--he writes some great stuff:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1171375

sylfish · 07/30/2007, 07:58 PM

IMHO, the best way to lessen the severity of sand storm is to add sand through 4" PVC pipe. Just my .03.

reeftexas · 07/30/2007, 09:44 PM

I'm with sylfish.Thats How i add if i need to.Easy to do,and you can direct the sand just where you want it.Good luck.

mikid · 07/31/2007, 07:49 AM

go to your neigborhood auto parts store and buy a oil filler funnel due to there lengh of usally 18 to 20inches,insert into tank,filler will fill with watermadd sand,work around tank and you will have hardly,if any dust,works for me great,thats how i add new sand,

Sk8r · 07/31/2007, 08:02 AM

I'd do it patch at a time. Let it settle out of any hair-algae snit, add another couple pounds, wait, etc.

07/25/2007, 11:33 PM	#1
karlyhui Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 157	Best way to add sand in a tank? Hi thanks for reading my post. I got around 50 pounds of sand and I want to add my establish tank with 1 inch or so sand. I don't want to create a sand storm. Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

07/25/2007, 11:42 PM	#2
flyguy7150 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines Posts: 895	put sand in cup and invert, or pvc pipe pour through there. Gonna do the cup way when i add more sand to my tank __________________ Leo Click on my red house to see my 90g RR tank :) Tons of pictures, tons... Click!!! Current Tank Info: 90g AGA Reef Ready, 6x54w T5s w/ SLRs, 29g Sump/fuge, OR 2500 Return, Octopus NW150, 2 x TLF Phosban Reactor, Koralia #1, #4, MJ Modded

07/26/2007, 10:37 AM	#3
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	Another option is a pop bottle. Fill it with sand using a funnel, cap it, put it in the tank, and uncap near the bottom, and slowly pour the sand out. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/26/2007, 11:09 AM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I was thinking of doing that also---won't that disrupt the kind of cyling going on in the established sand bed? __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/26/2007, 12:05 PM	#5
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	Just pour the sand on top. Disturb the existing sand as little as possible. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/26/2007, 12:28 PM	#6
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	could that be a remedy for the slime algae I have--just bury it and the nutrients etc that it is feeding on deep into the substrate to eventually be worked on the the bacteria once established again. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/26/2007, 12:42 PM	#7
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	You'll just end up with slime on the top of the new sand. Best solve the nutrient issue first. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/26/2007, 12:48 PM	#8
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	My 02 Remember that if your current substrate is "mature" it has layers of aerobic and anoxic bacteria which live in specific zones based on the level of oxygen .. when you add substrate you change the level of oxygen and run the risk of killing off that bacteria. Many would argue that if your determined to add more sand and you should do so in thin layers added every couple of weeks which will allow the bacteria to migrate/repopulate and avoid potential problems.

07/26/2007, 12:54 PM	#9
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	my sand bed is only one inch at best so I doubt if there is any anerobic activities going on--plus the bottom is constantly bared by a "clarkie from hell" That's why i was thinking of making the sand bed deep so i could get the benifits of some anerobic activity __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/26/2007, 12:55 PM	#10
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	my sand bed is only one inch at best so I doubt if there is any anerobic activities going on--plus the bottom is constantly bared by a "clarkie from hell" That's why i was thinking of making the sand bed deep so i could get the benifits of some anerobic activity---plus I have a 30gal with a well established sand bed that I could get a cup or two from to seed it __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/26/2007, 09:40 PM	#11
karlyhui Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 157	Hi That's the exact reason I added more sand. It seems my clowns and or messing with the sand leaving the bottom bare. urghh... is too late I cause a sandstorm. Hopefully it will clear soon. Should I close the filter? thanks

07/27/2007, 02:43 PM	#15
karlyhui Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 157	Hi I thought about putting something there also, but I didn't want to disturb there playground. Didn't want to be mean to them. I have to see if it works after the storm clears. For some reason they seem to love the storm. Much more active.

07/30/2007, 11:08 AM	#16
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I have had second thought about even doing that--the advantages of a refugium far outweight adding extra sand--besides you need a sandbed of 4-6 inches to be effective as a biological filter here is a thread on the very subject with articles from Jonathan to read--he writes some great stuff: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1171375 __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

07/30/2007, 07:58 PM	#17
sylfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 219	IMHO, the best way to lessen the severity of sand storm is to add sand through 4" PVC pipe. Just my .03. __________________ Stupid is as stupid does. Current Tank Info: 56g FOWLR since March 08; CSS 65 Skimmer; MaxiJet 900 x 2;

07/30/2007, 09:44 PM	#18
reeftexas Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: El Paso,Texas Posts: 833	I'm with sylfish.Thats How i add if i need to.Easy to do,and you can direct the sand just where you want it.Good luck.

07/31/2007, 07:49 AM	#19
mikid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: fair oaks,california Posts: 1,767	sand bed fill tool go to your neigborhood auto parts store and buy a oil filler funnel due to there lengh of usally 18 to 20inches,insert into tank,filler will fill with watermadd sand,work around tank and you will have hardly,if any dust,works for me great,thats how i add new sand,

07/31/2007, 08:02 AM	#20
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'd do it patch at a time. Let it settle out of any hair-algae snit, add another couple pounds, wait, etc. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.