setting up tank and adding sand later?

Snakebyt · 08/26/2009, 04:35 AM

i freshwater tested my tank tonight and all looks good. I am getting a few bags of southdown from a guy here local, but i think it might be next week before we can meet up.
Can i go ahead and start up tank with saltwater, add live rock ( from established tank) and get it going and then add the sand when i get it?

My thinking is that i can get the water "aged" a little bit, get bacteria and such in it so that when i do add sand, it will help a little bit with the sandstorm. I know ill have a sandstorm reguardless, but maybe with all the bacteria in the water it will attach to the sand faster and weigh it down a little faster.

jwalker314 · 08/26/2009, 04:37 AM

from what i understand the bacteria doesn't really hang out in the water all that much...its there, but not as much as the sand, witht he particles of sand it attaches to each grain. Now it wouldn't hurt to add the sand later, but i dont believe there will be much benefit to adding the water days before the sand.

Aqua Keepers · 08/26/2009, 09:34 AM

Those couple of days won't make a big difference. I would just wait.

billdogg · 08/26/2009, 09:42 AM

You can add sand at any point you like. In fact, you may find it to your advantage to do it after you have the base and live rock in place - Doing it that way will prevent anything from digging underneath the rock and causing a avalanche. (the rock will be on the glass, not on top of the sand)

smokieroom · 08/26/2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by billdogg
You can add sand at any point you like. In fact, you may find it to your advantage to do it after you have the base and live rock in place - Doing it that way will prevent anything from digging underneath the rock and causing a avalanche. (the rock will be on the glass, not on top of the sand)

I did the same thing but I put my rock on eggcrate so it was not just sitting on the glass. Also if you run a filter sock or some other filter media it will help clear the water faster.

seapug · 08/26/2009, 03:10 PM

You do need to be careful about adding a lot of sand at once to a stocked tank as it can cause a major drop in Alkalinity. If the tank is still cycling and has no livestock it's not such a concern, but you don't want to dump 20 lbs of sand into a 40 gallon tank full of corals and fish.

Aqua Keepers · 08/26/2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by seapug
You do need to be careful about adding a lot of sand at once to a stocked tank as it can cause a major drop in Alkalinity. If the tank is still cycling and has no livestock it's not such a concern, but you don't want to dump 20 lbs of sand into a 40 gallon tank full of corals and fish.

Good point SP.

wab · 08/26/2009, 04:28 PM

+1 for billdogg all that rock on a steady footing.good luck

Aquarist007 · 08/26/2009, 04:28 PM

I agree with seapug

If you are going to add the sand later then I would suggest you make this little invention:
Cut a piece of 2 inch pvc so that it reaches from top to bottom of your tank. Glue a funnel on the top of it
Use this to introduce the new washed sand to the bottom of your tank and reduce the snowstorm to almost nothing.

Snakebyt · 08/26/2009, 10:29 PM

there wont be any livestock in the tank till after the sand, just LR and whatever critters are in the rock

08/26/2009, 04:35 AM	#1
Snakebyt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lubbock Tx Posts: 2,141	setting up tank and adding sand later? i freshwater tested my tank tonight and all looks good. I am getting a few bags of southdown from a guy here local, but i think it might be next week before we can meet up. Can i go ahead and start up tank with saltwater, add live rock ( from established tank) and get it going and then add the sand when i get it? My thinking is that i can get the water "aged" a little bit, get bacteria and such in it so that when i do add sand, it will help a little bit with the sandstorm. I know ill have a sandstorm reguardless, but maybe with all the bacteria in the water it will attach to the sand faster and weigh it down a little faster.

08/26/2009, 09:42 AM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	You can add sand at any point you like. In fact, you may find it to your advantage to do it after you have the base and live rock in place - Doing it that way will prevent anything from digging underneath the rock and causing a avalanche. (the rock will be on the glass, not on top of the sand) __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/26/2009, 03:10 PM	#6
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	You do need to be careful about adding a lot of sand at once to a stocked tank as it can cause a major drop in Alkalinity. If the tank is still cycling and has no livestock it's not such a concern, but you don't want to dump 20 lbs of sand into a 40 gallon tank full of corals and fish. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/26/2009, 04:28 PM	#8
wab Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj Posts: 512	+1 for billdogg all that rock on a steady footing.good luck __________________ 1 year plus and still I DON'T KNOW!!!! LOL Current Tank Info: 45 high 30 breeder sump/refuge diy

08/26/2009, 04:28 PM	#9
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I agree with seapug If you are going to add the sand later then I would suggest you make this little invention: Cut a piece of 2 inch pvc so that it reaches from top to bottom of your tank. Glue a funnel on the top of it Use this to introduce the new washed sand to the bottom of your tank and reduce the snowstorm to almost nothing. __________________ 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

08/26/2009, 04:37 AM	#2
jwalker314 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Landenberg, PA Posts: 421	from what i understand the bacteria doesn't really hang out in the water all that much...its there, but not as much as the sand, witht he particles of sand it attaches to each grain. Now it wouldn't hurt to add the sand later, but i dont believe there will be much benefit to adding the water days before the sand.

08/26/2009, 09:34 AM	#3
Aqua Keepers Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 2,915	Those couple of days won't make a big difference. I would just wait.

08/26/2009, 10:29 PM	#10
Snakebyt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lubbock Tx Posts: 2,141	there wont be any livestock in the tank till after the sand, just LR and whatever critters are in the rock