Adding CaribSea Aragonite Sand to Existing Tank

therealkilo · 10/07/2017, 08:48 AM

I have a reef tank that I would like to add more sand to. I bought some CaribSea Aragonite Live Sand.

Tank is a 55gal and has been up and running for a little over a year.

Any suggestions on adding the sand?

Thanks in advance!

mcgyvr · 10/07/2017, 08:59 AM

If you go anything but uber slow you will cloud the water. So if you have some mechanical filtration I'd run it...

Fill a zip lock bag (gallon) and lower that to the bottom.. then open it and slowly pour out the sand..
Or get 2" or so piece of PVC stuck in the water down near the bottom and pour it through that slowly..

therealkilo · 10/07/2017, 09:24 AM

Thanks MCGyvr.

So it is okay to add live sand to an established tank?

Your methods sound good. I've read also about mixing it with existing or putting it in a new area or a little at a time.

Ritten · 10/07/2017, 09:49 AM

I add to my 29 every couple of months because I didn't put enough in to start with. I rinse it REALLY good (until the water runs clear) with ro/di. Then I let it sit until the sand comes to room temp because the ro/di is so cold. I just jab a knife and cut slits in a Styrofoam coffee cup and slowly lower it down with that. I do three to four cups at a time. I always have water for a 20% water change on hand, just in case, but I've never had any adverse affects on a tank that established.

therealkilo · 10/07/2017, 09:52 AM

Ritten are you rinsing "live" sand? Is it similar to what I mentioned?

It doesnt say on the bag.

Ritten · 10/07/2017, 10:32 AM

Yes, that is exactly the bag I use. Also, hey, hello, I'm from MN as well and we joined at almost the same time.

mcgyvr · 10/07/2017, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealkilo

Ritten are you rinsing "live" sand? Is it similar to what I mentioned?

It doesnt say on the bag.

I personally would use rinsed dry sand but would rinse the live sand if I had to use that..
live sand can contain quite a bit of "dead" that can cause issues you just don't need but in general it should be just fine..

Ritten · 10/07/2017, 11:14 AM

Yep, and I wouldn't rinse it if I was setting up a new tank.

therealkilo · 10/07/2017, 07:15 PM

@Ritten, thanks a lot and that is wild! Yep, I ordered it from our local BRS over in GV. I live in south mpls.

Okay, so rinse live sand since it is going in existing tank. Gotcha!

Thanks everyone. A lot of work to make a home for a leopard wrasse, YWG and Randalli pistol.

ca1ore · 10/08/2017, 08:55 AM

Using live sand is usually a waste of money when setting up a new tank, but it's always a waste when adding to an established tank. It's even counterproductive. I use obsessively well washed dry sand and either pour it down a piece of PVC pipe or use the ziploc bag method.

10/07/2017, 08:48 AM	#1
therealkilo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MN Posts: 166	Adding CaribSea Aragonite Sand to Existing Tank I have a reef tank that I would like to add more sand to. I bought some CaribSea Aragonite Live Sand. Tank is a 55gal and has been up and running for a little over a year. Any suggestions on adding the sand? Thanks in advance!

10/07/2017, 08:59 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If you go anything but uber slow you will cloud the water. So if you have some mechanical filtration I'd run it... Fill a zip lock bag (gallon) and lower that to the bottom.. then open it and slowly pour out the sand.. Or get 2" or so piece of PVC stuck in the water down near the bottom and pour it through that slowly.. __________________ Who me?

10/08/2017, 08:55 AM	#10
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Using live sand is usually a waste of money when setting up a new tank, but it's always a waste when adding to an established tank. It's even counterproductive. I use obsessively well washed dry sand and either pour it down a piece of PVC pipe or use the ziploc bag method. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

10/07/2017, 09:24 AM	#3
therealkilo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MN Posts: 166	Thanks MCGyvr. So it is okay to add live sand to an established tank? Your methods sound good. I've read also about mixing it with existing or putting it in a new area or a little at a time.

10/07/2017, 09:49 AM	#4
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	I add to my 29 every couple of months because I didn't put enough in to start with. I rinse it REALLY good (until the water runs clear) with ro/di. Then I let it sit until the sand comes to room temp because the ro/di is so cold. I just jab a knife and cut slits in a Styrofoam coffee cup and slowly lower it down with that. I do three to four cups at a time. I always have water for a 20% water change on hand, just in case, but I've never had any adverse affects on a tank that established.

10/07/2017, 09:52 AM	#5
therealkilo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MN Posts: 166	Ritten are you rinsing "live" sand? Is it similar to what I mentioned? It doesnt say on the bag.

10/07/2017, 10:32 AM	#6
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	Yes, that is exactly the bag I use. Also, hey, hello, I'm from MN as well and we joined at almost the same time.

10/07/2017, 11:14 AM	#8
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	Yep, and I wouldn't rinse it if I was setting up a new tank.

10/07/2017, 07:15 PM	#9
therealkilo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MN Posts: 166	@Ritten, thanks a lot and that is wild! Yep, I ordered it from our local BRS over in GV. I live in south mpls. Okay, so rinse live sand since it is going in existing tank. Gotcha! Thanks everyone. A lot of work to make a home for a leopard wrasse, YWG and Randalli pistol.