Adding Sand to Bare Bottom

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

So I've been experiencing some higher nitrates then I prefer and I believe the cause to be the fact that my starboard didn't stay siliconed to the bottom of my tank well. I siphon and blow out what I can on a weekly basis, but I believe the spots that I cannot get to are starting to add up. Snails and crabs have gone under and of course gotten stuck, making it impossible to flatten out with rock or any other method.

I've thought about removing it completely, but then the silicone will remain and I'd prefer to not have to empty my tank of fish and coral. I guess I'm looking for others to comment on their experience adding sand to their tanks. Did you remove everything? Did you not? How did it go?

My plan was basically to just add sand. Form it around my rocks and wait for my two gyres to blow it where it wants. As long as the corners where the starboard is releasing gets covered I think it would solve my issue. Of course I would get as much out prior as I could. I'm not dead set on adding sand yet, but it's an option. Everything in my tank is very happy, but when/if the time comes I'd like to be prepared.

Thanks!


Edit: I'm aware that my problem is Detritus getting stuck underneath my starboard. I am capable of blowing it out prior to filling the void with sand. I'm looking for people who have had success adding sand to an established tank. Thank you all!

 

[brandon429]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445

That has work examples of the kind of job you're doing, that's a lot of sand biology there...

 

[Chad3407]

Wouldn't the detritus still build up in those areas even if sand was on top the star board? The only way I see the issue being fixed is to remove the starboard. On another note I doubt you will fix a nitrate problem by adding sand. The sand will hold more detritus that what gets under the starboard.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

The areas where the starboard is releasing would be covered by sand and in turn trap any detritus prior to it going underneath. Hard for detritus to go into an area that is already filled.

I've never had issues with sand "holding detritus," that is why they make siphons to clean it periodically if needed.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445

That has work examples of the kind of job you're doing, that's a lot of sand biology there...

Yeah 20 pages of sand biology isn't what i'm looking for. I'm just curious the process others used. As mentioned, this is plan C or lower.

 

[brandon429]

Take caribsea or similar live sand, don't rinse it per directions, then add it to the tank via a bag set in the water and released out. If you're asking about adding sand, that's one way which is common. If you're asking about the nitrate, the biology, then it's been said the sand will cause more nitrate not reduce it- I agree. Our thread shows the hard work it takes to remove all the stored up waste.

 

[lolgranny]

I just want to say that in my 180g I didn’t silicone the starboard down. It was in 2 pieces and I simply put the rock on top of it. I didn’t have a issue with levels because of whatever got under there. When that day came and I did take it out it was just loaded with all sorts or worms / micro organisms. I personally think something else is the issue that’s causing your high levels and not that in my experience

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Trust me... I had no issues prior to the starboard starting to come up. On top of that, when I blow it out, the detritus that comes out is in large amounts. So I'm 98% sure this is where the issue is deriving from. I appreciate your reply though, thank you.

@brandon429 thank you... I've had multiple tanks with sand and never really had a nitrate issue with good husbandry. This tank has that same husbandry, but it's automated, so it's never missed.

 

[lolgranny]

Trust me... I had no issues prior to the starboard starting to come up. On top of that, when I blow it out, the detritus that comes out is in large amounts. So I'm 98% sure this is where the issue is deriving from. I appreciate your reply though, thank you.

@brandon429 thank you... I've had multiple tanks with sand and never really had a nitrate issue with good husbandry. This tank has that same husbandry, but it's automated, so it's never missed.

Is it coming up a lot? That’s wild. Mine was down for 4 years too.

If you just add the sand on top of it you’re just going to add to the problem imo. Not only will it still be under there but it will also be in your sand bed. Ugh what a pickle you’re in bud. That’s a headache.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Yeah two corners have really come up quite a bit. I've got some tubing that I rigged to a mj1200 that I can fit under to blow it out prior to adding sand. So it would be cleaned out decently prior to adding sand so nothing would be trapped in. I would expect that the sand would fill the void. It's really a last ditch effort like I said as I'm enjoying the bare bottom, but in the end it's what works best.

Hoping to avoid the pickle... everyone is good right now, but I wanted to have the conversation before it was too late.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

Can actually see it in my build thread, last post, last picture... two front corners.

 

[sfin52]

I agree with out fixing the issue the sand is going to compound the problem .

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

The problem is the detritus getting under the starboard. Blow it out, fill void with sand, eliminates problem.

I'm really just looking for people who have added sand after the tank is up and running and how they did it.

 

[sfin52]

I took PVC and placed pvc as close to the bottom as possible and added sand.

 

[lolgranny]

Can actually see it in my build thread, last post, last picture... two front corners.

I see what you’re saying. It wants to float upward because the lack of weight on those spots. Your tank looks mighty clean and corals look good. Why don’t you sit on it for a while and just watch your levels before pulling the trigger?

Here’s another idea. Why don’t you get some putty / super glue. Make a big ball of it and put it under each corner. Then take something heavy that will press it down on the corner while it cures. See if that helps fix the issue of it wanting to come upward.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

That is the plan currently. I've been keeping up on it pretty well with weekly cleanings. I'd like to add more fish eventually. This was mostly a precaution to educate myself on adding sand after the fact. It's really not what I want to do.

Unfortunately snails and crabs have now made there way underneath and gotten themselves stuck. Would be the only thing left in there if I did go sand. Otherwise I would do just that!