Re-Charging or Adding Sand to Established Tanks

customdusty · 02/07/2009, 03:07 PM

Is there a way to add bacteria to your sand bed to get it back to where it once was or to improve its effectiveness?

I have been having a minor problem with hair algae and byropsis, but it only seems to occur on the sand bed. There is one or two small pieces of LR that get it, but 95% of the rock is algae free, but this hair algae and byropsis is popping up all over my sand - about 95% of it is on the sand only.

All water parameters check good, which is why this puzzles me.

I run phosphate and carbon in a reactor, and also have a fuge with a thriving, massive ball of Cheato that tumbles under light 24/7.

The reason I feel the sand is the problem is that over the course of battling this aglae, I have removed little portions of the sand over time, making it much thinner than I'd like.

I would like to know about either re-charging the sand-bed with bacteria, or if I may just add in more sand.

customdusty · 02/08/2009, 03:59 PM

bump

customdusty · 02/10/2009, 05:39 PM

bump

Twz · 02/10/2009, 06:26 PM

just taking a shot in the dark,
but When I first set up my 90 gallon
there was a major design flaw, I mounted the MH ballast
under the tank.
It turned out the bottom of the tank was simply getting too hot and would kill sand dwelling things,
causeing the same thing you're experiencing,
removed the ballast and the problem went away in a-few days.

EDIT:
And as for the adding sand, I would simply, slowly add the sand over a period of time untill you\re desired level, and if you would still like a sand bed "boost" I would find another reefer, with a nice tank =) and see if you can get a cup of sand off them, add to you're tank.

Whys · 02/10/2009, 06:54 PM

Never hurts to add some true live sand from an established tank if you think some of your critter populations have collapsed. Or you could add some fresh liverock, as that will have the same effect.

customdusty · 02/10/2009, 07:54 PM

I've got 40 lbs Aragalive live sand hanging around I'd like to put in. Finding a cup or so from somebody local is possible too, however I'm wondering if there is any process or rule of thumb to follow; for example maybe add so many pounds per gallon, per week, per certain % water change, etc. And what are the risks, re-cycle, ammonia spike, etc.

Whys · 02/10/2009, 08:22 PM

I've heard Waterkeeper say you shouldn't add more than a 1/2" at a time. I don't recall what the duration of "at a time" was tho. I assume 3 to 6 weeks, but can't be certain of that.

luv4paws2 · 02/10/2009, 08:36 PM

Only about 1/2" at a time gives the sand dwelling creatures a chance to burrow through and not get suffocated. Once you see some signs of life in the new sand then its safe to add more. The best way I have found is to fill up small ziplock bags with sand, let them sink to the bottom and then slowly pour the sand out. This keeps it from clouding up the tank too much.

puffster · 02/10/2009, 08:42 PM

I just switched tanks and I trashed all the old sand. I did however used 60% of the old water and the established live rock. I replaced with all new sand. No problems or spikes with the cycle. Been testing every day. Getting some established media to mix with the new live sand would not be a bad idea.

customdusty · 02/12/2009, 09:26 PM

So I have been adding sand now, about 10 lbs since Monday.

Do not seem to see any issues, but I have a roughly 50% of the system volume in fresh mixed saltwater in case something goes wrong.

Based on the fact that I have had 90 lbs live sand and 160 lbs live rock in there for over a year, and all of the rock was from established tanks, I felt it was safe to add about 10 lbs per week - less than 5% per week.

str8salt · 02/12/2009, 10:13 PM

Everyonce in a while our local group gets together. we bring a little sand from our tanks and allow it to be added to their tanks. I have heard of people mixing everyones sand in a bucket and then dolling it out. It wont take much to seed again.

02/07/2009, 03:07 PM	#1
customdusty Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Geneva, IL Posts: 1,095	Re-Charging or Adding Sand to Established Tanks Is there a way to add bacteria to your sand bed to get it back to where it once was or to improve its effectiveness? I have been having a minor problem with hair algae and byropsis, but it only seems to occur on the sand bed. There is one or two small pieces of LR that get it, but 95% of the rock is algae free, but this hair algae and byropsis is popping up all over my sand - about 95% of it is on the sand only. All water parameters check good, which is why this puzzles me. I run phosphate and carbon in a reactor, and also have a fuge with a thriving, massive ball of Cheato that tumbles under light 24/7. The reason I feel the sand is the problem is that over the course of battling this aglae, I have removed little portions of the sand over time, making it much thinner than I'd like. I would like to know about either re-charging the sand-bed with bacteria, or if I may just add in more sand. __________________ "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." --George W. Bush, Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000 Current Tank Info: 105g Mixed Rimless Starphire by Miracles - Reefthreads.com "Noteworthy Tank" November 19, 2010 Podcast #13 - Sfiligoi Stealth 12x39 T5 - 2x Vortech MP40W - BK/Vertex Alpha Cone 200 - Neptue Apex - 2 Part - Tunze ATO - BRS 5 Stage RO/DI

02/08/2009, 03:59 PM	#2
customdusty Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Geneva, IL Posts: 1,095	bump __________________ "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." --George W. Bush, Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000 Current Tank Info: 105g Mixed Rimless Starphire by Miracles - Reefthreads.com "Noteworthy Tank" November 19, 2010 Podcast #13 - Sfiligoi Stealth 12x39 T5 - 2x Vortech MP40W - BK/Vertex Alpha Cone 200 - Neptue Apex - 2 Part - Tunze ATO - BRS 5 Stage RO/DI

02/10/2009, 05:39 PM	#3
customdusty Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Geneva, IL Posts: 1,095	bump __________________ "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." --George W. Bush, Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000 Current Tank Info: 105g Mixed Rimless Starphire by Miracles - Reefthreads.com "Noteworthy Tank" November 19, 2010 Podcast #13 - Sfiligoi Stealth 12x39 T5 - 2x Vortech MP40W - BK/Vertex Alpha Cone 200 - Neptue Apex - 2 Part - Tunze ATO - BRS 5 Stage RO/DI

02/10/2009, 06:26 PM	#4
Twz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Edmonton Posts: 628	just taking a shot in the dark, but When I first set up my 90 gallon there was a major design flaw, I mounted the MH ballast under the tank. It turned out the bottom of the tank was simply getting too hot and would kill sand dwelling things, causeing the same thing you're experiencing, removed the ballast and the problem went away in a-few days. EDIT: And as for the adding sand, I would simply, slowly add the sand over a period of time untill you\re desired level, and if you would still like a sand bed "boost" I would find another reefer, with a nice tank =) and see if you can get a cup of sand off them, add to you're tank. Last edited by Twz; 02/10/2009 at 06:32 PM.

02/10/2009, 07:54 PM	#6
customdusty Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Geneva, IL Posts: 1,095	I've got 40 lbs Aragalive live sand hanging around I'd like to put in. Finding a cup or so from somebody local is possible too, however I'm wondering if there is any process or rule of thumb to follow; for example maybe add so many pounds per gallon, per week, per certain % water change, etc. And what are the risks, re-cycle, ammonia spike, etc. __________________ "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." --George W. Bush, Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000 Current Tank Info: 105g Mixed Rimless Starphire by Miracles - Reefthreads.com "Noteworthy Tank" November 19, 2010 Podcast #13 - Sfiligoi Stealth 12x39 T5 - 2x Vortech MP40W - BK/Vertex Alpha Cone 200 - Neptue Apex - 2 Part - Tunze ATO - BRS 5 Stage RO/DI

02/10/2009, 06:54 PM	#5
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	Never hurts to add some true live sand from an established tank if you think some of your critter populations have collapsed. Or you could add some fresh liverock, as that will have the same effect.

02/10/2009, 08:22 PM	#7
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	I've heard Waterkeeper say you shouldn't add more than a 1/2" at a time. I don't recall what the duration of "at a time" was tho. I assume 3 to 6 weeks, but can't be certain of that.

02/10/2009, 08:36 PM	#8
luv4paws2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 612	Only about 1/2" at a time gives the sand dwelling creatures a chance to burrow through and not get suffocated. Once you see some signs of life in the new sand then its safe to add more. The best way I have found is to fill up small ziplock bags with sand, let them sink to the bottom and then slowly pour the sand out. This keeps it from clouding up the tank too much. __________________ If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 110 x-tall, 30 gal sump/fuge

02/10/2009, 08:42 PM	#9
puffster Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ravenna, oh Posts: 946	I just switched tanks and I trashed all the old sand. I did however used 60% of the old water and the established live rock. I replaced with all new sand. No problems or spikes with the cycle. Been testing every day. Getting some established media to mix with the new live sand would not be a bad idea.

02/12/2009, 09:26 PM	#10
customdusty Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Geneva, IL Posts: 1,095	So I have been adding sand now, about 10 lbs since Monday. Do not seem to see any issues, but I have a roughly 50% of the system volume in fresh mixed saltwater in case something goes wrong. Based on the fact that I have had 90 lbs live sand and 160 lbs live rock in there for over a year, and all of the rock was from established tanks, I felt it was safe to add about 10 lbs per week - less than 5% per week. __________________ "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." --George W. Bush, Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000 Current Tank Info: 105g Mixed Rimless Starphire by Miracles - Reefthreads.com "Noteworthy Tank" November 19, 2010 Podcast #13 - Sfiligoi Stealth 12x39 T5 - 2x Vortech MP40W - BK/Vertex Alpha Cone 200 - Neptue Apex - 2 Part - Tunze ATO - BRS 5 Stage RO/DI

02/12/2009, 10:13 PM	#11
str8salt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 60	Everyonce in a while our local group gets together. we bring a little sand from our tanks and allow it to be added to their tanks. I have heard of people mixing everyones sand in a bucket and then dolling it out. It wont take much to seed again.