Adding sand on top of sand

[coker98]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times but I just needed to specifically make sure this has been or could be done.

I'm adding sand on top of my existing sand bed.

Right now I have a mix of sand between reef grade, crushed coral and reactor media grade chunks.

If I use reef grade to cover over everything slowly will I have an issue with detritus that may be trapped between the larger pieces?

Thanks.

 

[Diesel]

Not usually.
How old is the sand bed you putting it on?

 

[coker98]

A little over a year old.

 

[Diesel]

You can add some sand, just don’t do a DSB
Remember the larger course piece you will try to burie will by time make a apperence again.

 

[Midrats]

The coarse stuff always ends up back on top as Diesel has said. I'd add it a little at a time over several days so as not to smother too much life.

 

[coker98]

It's currently at an inch deep right now. I'm thinking of taking it to 3 inches overall through out the tank. I understand I need to go slow.

If I add 2 inches of sand on top of the coarse stuff do you guys think it'll still find a way back up?

 

[Diesel]

It's currently at an inch deep right now. I'm thinking of taking it to 3 inches overall through out the tank. I understand I need to go slow.

If I add 2 inches of sand on top of the coarse stuff do you guys think it'll still find a way back up?

Yes, it will end up to the top.
It will take a bit longer but you’ll see it.
Why not take your time and remove the large course pieces.

 

[coker98]

It's a 350 gallon tank.

 

[Diesel]

It's a 350 gallon tank.

You need a dump truck to add your 3” of sand

 

[jd371]

Wow! 350g you'll be using a lot of sand. I added to my tank too but it was only a 75g, I used a piece of PVC with a funnel at the end to place the sand where I wanted it and get it into tight places as well. Like was mentioned already anything larger than the grain you're adding will make it's way to the top again. Because I have that very fine sugar type sand I siphoned some out when I had a Cyano outbreak when cleaning the sand and needed to add some back.

 

[coker98]

Because it's too large to siphon I think ill just scoop it out with a strainer then. This is going to suck.

 

[Stigigemla]

3 inches is the most dangerous depth of a sand bed. I would keep most of it under 1 inch so it is possible to siphon it.
If you are going to keep sand burrowing fishes or sand sleeping fishes they can have a small spot with deep sand.
They will find it. But sand sleeping fishes want fine grain sand.