Add Sand?

[ggNoRe]

I have 2 year old system that I'm considering adding some Caribsea live sand to. Lately I have been obsessively cleaning it due to green patches running across the top and before I knew it I am low on sand to the point where you can see the bare glass underneath in a few spots. Will it mess up my system and cause instability by adding some more?

 

[SaltySam09]

If it’s caribsea live sand then no.
Just scoop some out in a cup and pour it as close to the bottom of the tank as possible to stop as much dust as you can.
but other then cloudy water for a few hours there should be no other problems.

 

[ggNoRe]

If it’s caribsea live sand then no.
Just scoop some out in a cup and pour it as close to the bottom of the tank as possible to stop as much dust as you can.
but other then cloudy water for a few hours there should be no other problems.

Thank you

 

[Steve2020]

I have 2 year old system that I'm considering adding some Caribsea live sand to. Lately I have been obsessively cleaning it due to green patches running across the top and before I knew it I am low on sand to the point where you can see the bare glass underneath in a few spots. Will it mess up my system and cause instability by adding some more?

I am kind of in the same situation except I removed some sand due to calcification in some areas. I made a couple phone calls today to BRS and a very reputable LFS and explained to them my tank setup and because my sand bed was shallow (1-1.25" ) which doesn't promote the growth of Anaerobic Bacteria they both recommended using dry sand. It was explained to me that adding the Carib Sea Alive Sand is ok for starting a new tank but the bacteria that is in the sand is not very beneficial if at all to an existing tank. Because you now have diverse bacteria colonies that exist on your rockscape, the existing bacteria will populate on the dry sand fairly quickly. If a live sand was to be added BRS did recommend a sand like Ocean Direct Live Reef Sand because of the diverse types of bacteria colonies in that sand.
I will be adding dry sand myself along with some MB7 which I already dose once a week anyways.
I just thought I would pass along this info and I am not saying this would be fine for your tank due to not knowing your setup.

 

[ggNoRe]

I am kind of in the same situation except I removed some sand due to calcification in some areas. I made a couple phone calls today to BRS and a very reputable LFS and explained to them my tank setup and because my sand bed was shallow (1-1.25" ) which doesn't promote the growth of Anaerobic Bacteria they both recommended using dry sand. It was explained to me that adding the Carib Sea Alive Sand is ok for starting a new tank but the bacteria that is in the sand is not very beneficial if at all to an existing tank. Because you now have diverse bacteria colonies that exist on your rockscape, the existing bacteria will populate on the dry sand fairly quickly. If a live sand was to be added BRS did recommend a sand like Ocean Direct Live Reef Sand because of the diverse types of bacteria colonies in that sand.
I will be adding dry sand myself along with some MB7 which I already dose once a week anyways.
I just thought I would pass along this info and I am not saying this would be fine for your tank due to not knowing your setup.

Thank you for your input as well. It is appreciated

 

[Steve2020]

Thank you for your input as well. It is appreciated

You are very welcome!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have 2 year old system that I'm considering adding some Caribsea live sand to. Lately I have been obsessively cleaning it due to green patches running across the top and before I knew it I am low on sand to the point where you can see the bare glass underneath in a few spots. Will it mess up my system and cause instability by adding some more?

While you can (best is to cut whole on bottom corner and allow to run along bottom of tank into the tank), do realize you may subject yourself to diatoms and otyher silicate issues that may occur - will be temporary of course

 

[ggNoRe]

While you can (best is to cut whole on bottom corner and allow to run along bottom of tank into the tank), do realize you may subject yourself to diatoms and otyher silicate issues that may occur - will be temporary of course

Thank you. I gladly welcome diatoms. Much better than this dark green thick thick thick algae I'm growing these days.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I always wash the sand first in saltwater and add the wet sand into the tank from a tumbler or small plastic container -- no dust.

 

[ggNoRe]

Added the new live sand last night. Have mad micro bubbles now. Really hope it's not dinoflagellates coming back. They really kicked my butt a little over a year ago.

 

[ggNoRe]

The bubbles came and went. Now just green algae on the sand.