Adding a sand bed to an established BB tank

gtoon159 · 12/06/2009, 08:39 AM

About 3 years ago I removed the sandbed from my 90 Reef thinking that increasing the flow would be good. Well my wife hates it and always has and my maintenance faded with the years so. . . . I am in the process of removing and cooking all the LR so all that is left in the tank is a few surviving corals and three fish.

Lots of Zoos
Large FrogSpawn (X2)
Large Green Star Polyp
Mushrooms
Others I don't recall
mated pair of Clown Fish
Royal Gramma

So here is my Core Question. how do I add sand back and what kind of sand should be used in this case? Do I need to cure it with the LR?

I feel like I am learning all over again after being dormant for over a year.

Thanks for the help
George

xgames · 12/06/2009, 12:30 PM

Just add a little at a time over the following week.

xgames · 12/06/2009, 12:34 PM

You do not need to cure it , just make sure you buy a quality agronite. I like the stuff with the larger size shells in it.

aoc230 · 12/13/2009, 08:46 AM

curing your live rock would depend alot on how long you cook it and if any toxins exist within the rock and survive the cooking... if you kook your rock, Your going to be starting from new again, not really sure putting all existing live items back in tank is the best thing to do, not sure they will survive???

as per the sand bottom depends on what you want to be in your sandbed... i like sand sifters in my tank so i have the special grade, not to course or to fine. the courser you go the harder i find it is to keep that nice white bottom.

So as an end answer, if your baking ALL your live rock id take everything out and start fresh. put the sand in then rock and go from there.. KEEPING UP on husbandry tasks is essential in this hobby, you gotta stay on top of it(or at least in the winter lol).

12/06/2009, 08:39 AM	#1
gtoon159 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MSP Posts: 31	Adding a sand bed to an established BB tank About 3 years ago I removed the sandbed from my 90 Reef thinking that increasing the flow would be good. Well my wife hates it and always has and my maintenance faded with the years so. . . . I am in the process of removing and cooking all the LR so all that is left in the tank is a few surviving corals and three fish. Lots of Zoos Large FrogSpawn (X2) Large Green Star Polyp Mushrooms Others I don't recall mated pair of Clown Fish Royal Gramma So here is my Core Question. how do I add sand back and what kind of sand should be used in this case? Do I need to cure it with the LR? I feel like I am learning all over again after being dormant for over a year. Thanks for the help George __________________ George and Pam Toon 90 RR 55 sitting in the Garage waiting for another project Burnsville MN Current Tank Info: 90 Gal RR Mag 9.5 return Mag 5 closed loop wavce maker

12/06/2009, 12:30 PM	#2
xgames Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada, ehh! Posts: 56	Just add a little at a time over the following week.

12/06/2009, 12:34 PM	#3
xgames Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Canada, ehh! Posts: 56	You do not need to cure it , just make sure you buy a quality agronite. I like the stuff with the larger size shells in it.

12/13/2009, 08:46 AM	#4
aoc230 Aoc230 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: london, ON, Canada Posts: 180	curing your live rock would depend alot on how long you cook it and if any toxins exist within the rock and survive the cooking... if you kook your rock, Your going to be starting from new again, not really sure putting all existing live items back in tank is the best thing to do, not sure they will survive??? as per the sand bottom depends on what you want to be in your sandbed... i like sand sifters in my tank so i have the special grade, not to course or to fine. the courser you go the harder i find it is to keep that nice white bottom. So as an end answer, if your baking ALL your live rock id take everything out and start fresh. put the sand in then rock and go from there.. KEEPING UP on husbandry tasks is essential in this hobby, you gotta stay on top of it(or at least in the winter lol).