Adding more sand

[gemini9]

I've looked into this before, about getting some more sand for my tank and was advised that I have enough, but I'd still like to have a bit more. I just don't feel like what I have is adequate right now. I have a 30 gallon, 36 inch long tank with 20 pounds of sand. Depth probably is less than an inch. I'm still looking to buy a Randalls goby and pistol shrimp to accompany him, but in reading about them, it looks like they need a bit more sand that what I have. An inch of sand just doesn't seem like really enough to burrow into, so I'm still considering adding more. Which brings me to my questions.

10 pounds of sand being added to the tank, I'm not sure how to go about adding it. I know the cloudiness will go away and that doesn't bother me. I'm just afraid of messing up the established bacteria, disrupting anything or starting a mini cycle. I haven't ordered the sand yet. I figure the sand will have to be added gradually, but should I get Live sand, or dry sand? I have also read that you cannot add more sand on top of the sand you already have... not sure why.... but I read it somewhere. If this is the case, how am I supposed to add it?

I may order 10 pounds of the pink fiji aragonite. I already have 20 pounds of the same.

 

[mrcoffee2]

Hmm, heres a question... I am assuming you have live rock in the tank... Is that rock sitting on top of your sand bed or directly on the bottom of your tank? If its on top you are going to want to push it down to the bare bottom. This will help bring up the thickness of the sand, and make it so they don't fall on your shrimp when he is digging - Just a thought

Also 1 inch isnt terrible for a pistol. he will rip it all apart and create his holes. i'd suggest putting them in first and seeing what they do. Chances are you will find you are good.

Once you get past 1 inch of sand it can get messy. I am assuming they say don't add new sand because it will compact the nutients and waste within the sand that will eventually leach out nasty stuff, personally if you are going to have a pistol shrimp it shouldnt matter because he is going to dig your entire aquascape up every night lol.

If you wanted to add a little bit more sand you can use a PVC pipe to guide the sand to spots that you want. It will still be cloudy though...

 

[gemini9]

About the live rock, it was originally placed on top of the sand, but me being the type of guy who can't keep his hands out of the tank, I find myself moving stuff around quite a bit, and a few of the rocks which were moved have been pushed down into the sand, but most are still sitting on the top. I suppose I could reach in there and push some more down deeper to give more volume....

I'm having problems with the pistol shrimp/randalls goby in that every where I've looked has had one in stock, but not the other. One place had a shrimp, but no goby. Another place would have the goby but no shrimp. I'd prefer to purchase them at the same place to save on shipping costs. Any ideas there? LFS is out of the question, as they won't order anything for me. LAME!

But if I do decide to get the sand, should it be live sand or dry sand? Pistol shrimp ... hey is he peaceful? He won't disturb my other livestock will he? I hear they are ferocious with that snapper! But I want one because they bond with Randol Orange stripe gobies.