Adding sand to established tank

[Darbna]

Hey all, my 125 Gallon is aprox. 8 Months old, everything is "happy" including my SPS corals. I wanted to add more live sand since my sand bed is really thinned out. Bare spots and all, I can really use a deeper sand bed. Has anyone attempted this and what was the outcome? Will my tank go through a spike of ammonia and nitrates and cycle again , or harm any of the livestock? Let me know, since I am off work tomorrow I was gonna move forward on adding sand if nothing negative comes of it.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hey all, my 125 Gallon is aprox. 8 Months old, everything is "happy" including my SPS corals. I wanted to add more live sand since my sand bed is really thinned out. Bare spots and all, I can really use a deeper sand bed. Has anyone attempted this and what was the outcome? Will my tank go through a spike of ammonia and nitrates and cycle again , or harm any of the livestock? Let me know, since I am off work tomorrow I was gonna move forward on adding sand if nothing negative comes of it.

i have added live sand many times with no problems. there is nothing in live sand that i know of that will cause ammonia.

 

[Bunnee911]

No need to buy live sand. Whatever you get will be live in a short while. But, you absolutely want to rinse the heck out of your new sand.
I have added it to existing tanks many times. I used a plexiglass tube and a funnel. Put it down with accuracy that way. Oh, turn your pumps off while you add it.

 

[Darbna]

If there is dye off, that is what causes Ammonia from what I understand but thank you for the feedback. Thats what I was looking for.

 

[DanielCervantes]

I just added sand to my tank about 30 min ago. I used a 2 liter soda bottle and a funnel to put the sand in the bottle. Then I slowly turned the bottle upside down in the tank and dispersed it evenly. Once the bottle is empty of sand put the cap on in the tank to trap the cloudy water. Worked like a charm for me.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If there is dye off, that is what causes Ammonia from what I understand but thank you for the feedback. Thats what I was looking for.

there are very limited nutrients in live sand and only to feed the bacteria. if there was ammonia in the bag the bacteria would eat that. live sand is clean processed and has basicly the same stuff as in prime or other bacterial additives. No organics to rot and create ammonia.
If there's a lot of debris in the sand you have it may kick up poop and cause the really incorrectly termed "mini cycle". a cycle is the bacteria, a rush of nutrients creates the ugly phase or a temporary one..

were I to add sand it would be live as it keeps down the ammonia and processes the extra poop. if I were to use dry I would add bottled bacteria for the same reason. so either way really works.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I just added sand to my tank about 30 min ago. I used a 2 liter soda bottle and a funnel to put the sand in the bottle. Then I slowly turned the bottle upside down in the tank and dispersed it evenly. Once the bottle is empty of sand put the cap on in the tank to trap the cloudy water. Worked like a charm for me.

cool. I had more room to work so I just cut the corner of the bag. In my smaller tank I used a Piping bag like for cakes.

 

[inurmind]

+1 on above

I like the bottle idea but I was gonna say to use a bag like salty did and just cut the bag open underwater and pull out the plastic.

Expect a mini cycle but as long as the sand is washed you shouldn't have too much to worry about

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

+1 on above

I like the bottle idea but I was gonna say to use a bag like salty did and just cut the bag open underwater and pull out the plastic.

Expect a mini cycle but as long as the sand is washed you shouldn't have too much to worry about

Whats up Homie! Welcome to r2r! +1 on that

Man I dont like the term mini cycle. its not what it is. You can only have a mini cycle in a mini tank
we as hobbiest should look for a new term as a standard that more correctly describes what is actually happening when stirring up detritus, like ppo poo storm.

"Will stirring up my sand create a Poo Poo Storm?" Yes, yes it will. will adding fresh clean sand cause a storm? Probably not as there's no poo.

 

[Joey waid]

+1 on above

I like the bottle idea but I was gonna say to use a bag like salty did and just cut the bag open underwater and pull out the plastic.

Expect a mini cycle but as long as the sand is washed you shouldn't have too much to worry about

It is a very good idea.

 

[inurmind]

Whats up Homie! Welcome to r2r! +1 on that

Man I dont like the term mini cycle. its not what it is. You can only have a mini cycle in a mini tank
we as hobbiest should look for a new term as a standard that more correctly describes what is actually happening when stirring up detritus, like ppo poo storm.

"Will stirring up my sand create a Poo Poo Storm?" Yes, yes it will. will adding fresh clean sand cause a storm? Probably not as there's no poo.

Hey what's up J!!! Yeah I kinda forgot about other reef forums outside of sdr the last couple years but figured I'd be a little more active on the nationals. I agree and dig your scientific term

 

[Darbna]

Thanks everyone. Added 20 LB with the funnel and PVC. Was cloudy, but good to go now. Hurricanes happen in the ocean so I should be good with a little spike.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Adding dead sand shouldn’t have any affect on a cycled tank except a small cycle possibly correct? Obv depends on amount added too right?

 

[Jim the noob]

Just found this thread
, and im about to try this today. But what about my CUC, will i burry and of them in the process or can they all digg themselves up? I have snails and hermits

 

[JNalley]

Just found this thread
, and im about to try this today. But what about my CUC, will i burry and of them in the process or can they all digg themselves up? I have snails and hermits

I go based on the mantra "If they can bury themselves, they can certainly unbury themselves". Always worked for me...

 

[Letta's Lettuce]

So I followed the advice here and tried the clip the corner of the bag method and...well...I made a pretty epic sand cloud in there... I have a 2-line sand sifting goby who does an awesome job and every couple weeks makes his own sand cloud in there when he rearranges everything and digs more dens. This one's pretty epic though.... Using the theory that hurricanes, etc. happen in the ocean, maybe I won't have killed anyone? I can see my angel flitting around the bottom and the clowns were around for a bit... I don't have coral. FOWLR