Adding sand, OK to burry critters?

richfavinger · 12/09/2011, 09:53 PM

I'm adding new sand (Tropic Eden Miniflake

) to an established system. Since I just added my cleanup crew to bring my 'dead' tank back up to snuff... I have a lot of snails and crabs (blue and red leg hermits) that are frequenting the sand bed...

Is it OK to cover them? I don't mean like 3"... But 1-2" and a little bit over time as I add sand to the system. Will they dig out?

jon99 · 12/10/2011, 02:41 PM

Yes they'll be fine. Like you said though, add a little at a time. I would maybe do it every few days and stretch it out over a month or so, depending on how much you're adding. It will take longer and is more work, but there's less risk of suffocating your sandbed fauna and starting a cycle.

Froggy · 12/10/2011, 03:15 PM

Just add 1/2" at a time each week to give the critters time to migrate back toward the top until you reach your desired depth.

Joe

12/09/2011, 09:53 PM	#1
richfavinger Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 866	Adding sand, OK to burry critters? I'm adding new sand (Tropic Eden Miniflake ) to an established system. Since I just added my cleanup crew to bring my 'dead' tank back up to snuff... I have a lot of snails and crabs (blue and red leg hermits) that are frequenting the sand bed... Is it OK to cover them? I don't mean like 3"... But 1-2" and a little bit over time as I add sand to the system. Will they dig out? __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: DSA 135g (48x24x27) Starphire, Elite Aquatics M2 Sump, Reef Octopus Diablo DCS200-INT, GEO 612 Calcium Reactor + AP Carbon Doser, 2x Radion Pro Gen2, 2x VorTech MP40

12/10/2011, 03:15 PM	#3
Froggy Reef "Hobbyist"...right!? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 2,160	Just add 1/2" at a time each week to give the critters time to migrate back toward the top until you reach your desired depth. Joe __________________ Hello, my name is Joe and I am a reef addict. ......Hi Joe.......... Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef with TBS live rock, 8 X 54 watt TEK T5's, Euroreef RS250 skimmer

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12/10/2011, 02:41 PM	#2
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	Yes they'll be fine. Like you said though, add a little at a time. I would maybe do it every few days and stretch it out over a month or so, depending on how much you're adding. It will take longer and is more work, but there's less risk of suffocating your sandbed fauna and starting a cycle.