Adding substrate...

[Bubblewood]

I have a a 1 year old reef. 240 gal -60.36.24.
I have Aragonite for my substrate and I want to add some Fiji pink sand to my tank. What is the best way to do this without causing any issues. Is it even possible to do? Looking for any advice. Thanks!

 

[2Lucky2]

Hmm... Thats a tough one. I personally wouldn't advise adding substrate to a tank that is already mature. But if you were to do it, I recommend getting a 2"-3" in. pvc tube and a funnel and adding just a little at a time to target areas. Be sure to add it slowly to try not to clog up the pvc and to try to minimize disturbing the existing substrate as much as possible. Thats the best I could come up with! Good Luck!

 

[ReeferRookie]

I havnt done it to a reef but have with an existing salt water tank. I happen to agree use the pvc pipe but first rince ur substrate with saltwater to rid of dust or tiny particles this will also help stop dust and debris from flying or floating in the tank. I used a measuring cup as i wasnt smart enough to think bout the pvc pipe. Just poured extremely slow

 

[davocean]

Rinse sand in clean RO/DI if it is dry sand(what I advise) and fill in PVC as suggested, rubber band a plastic baggy at one end before filling, place where you want it, use tongs to release baggy, it will float up.
Only add about a half inch of sand at a time so you don't choke out existing life, or best is to do that on half the tank, wait a few days/week, then do other side.
I prefer the caribsea seaflor special grade, does not blow around so easy.

 

[melev]

Here's what I did: Reef Addicts - How to add sand to an existing reef tank

 

[Saltgator]

Just added sand back to my reef after recycling the rock (rocks without coral) and the new sand. All sand was in the garage in a livestock vat since June. The sand was contained in a bucket which I took out of the vat and slowly added a gallon of sand at a time. The key imo is to slowly allow the sand to fill with water, turn any water flow off and easily pour sand in. I had no sand storm or rocks covered doing it this way.

As long as you have a current sand bed that has bacteria in it, adding dry/dead sand will not matter. The new sand will become alive using the bacteria throughout the old sand. This again is my opinion.

 

[Bubblewood]

Thanks for all the input.... I will continue to do more research on adding more to my existing sand bed. The goal is to add another 2". Just not sure how long to wait between each "layer".

 

[melev]

1/2" per week to 10 days would be best.

 

[psiconauta]

1/2" per week to 10 days would be best.

Agree 100%
Ive even gone faster than that several times when not adding but replacing in the past, due to age of the tank and detritus accumulation, but this is a realistic and safe approach, don't worry too much, if everything is setup right and you are monitoring it. Besides you are adding more space for bacteria to live, and you are adding space for non aerobic bacteria now.