Adding sand to an established bare bottom tank?

[BrooksReef]

Hi everyone!

As the title says, I'm wanting to add sand to my tank that is currently running as bare bottom. Though, I'm very unaware if there are large risks involved in doing this.

The tank info:
20g
HOB AquaClear 70 Filter
Mostly Chalices and Zoanthids
Two SPS pieces


Is there anything I should do before going at this?

Any advice would be appreciated!!
Brooks

 

[caudill187]

Should be fine. One risk might be a spike in silicates = diatoms or dinoflagellate outbreak. Run some phosguard or GFO, a couple of extra water changes.

 

[Emoney]

+1 ^…think you'll be fine

 

[Lateral72]

I would add it slowly. 3-4lb per day max.

 

[Glenn]

I added a full bag (40lb) of crushed coral to my 120g tank after it was set up - the only problem that I had was visibility for the remainder of the day. No spikes in algae or dino's we noted and by the 2nd day, the tank was clear. A week later and it was crystal clear. It has now been two-three months and (IMO) everything is going great.