Can i add more sand?
- Thread starter jp_75
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El_Guapo13
Valuable Member
I have heard some people say that yes, it will cause at least a mini cycle if you add live sand. But then I have also heard others say they had no issue. Of course, you could always just play it safe and add plain old dry/dead sand. That is what I did when I had to move everything from my old biocube to my current 29 gallon. No problems whatsoever.
jeffrey750750
Reefin in the slow lane
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I've added a half a bag of live sand after sucking so much sand filled with dinos. Never had any issues, may get cloudy for a couple hours. Put in a new filter sock and change it a couple hours later
Whatever you do.. dont just put it on the old sand. Itll kill all the BB and start a cycle. You gatta mix it together when you put it in. So rinse the new sand good so it wont get cloudy ( another mistake i didnt ).. use a cup to put it in slowely by putting you arm in the tank moving the cup to thr bottom.. then mix the two slowly.
I once added sand on top of my old sand eithout mixing it.. and my tank smelt like sewage later on and cause a huge ammonia spike
I once added sand on top of my old sand eithout mixing it.. and my tank smelt like sewage later on and cause a huge ammonia spike
NS Mike D
In the arena.
live sand is better, it's already covered with bacteria. Be careful to not add too much sand. A deep sand bed is for advanced reefers and the margin between say an inch for a normal and bed as 6inches for a deep sand bed can cause more trouble than either a normal or a deep sand bed.
If the bag is more than you need, refrain from adding it.
If the bag is more than you need, refrain from adding it.
2Sunny
Active Member
I do it every other month and have done so for years because when I clean my sand bed I siphon out about a 1/4 inch each time so after a couple months I need to add a couple bags of new sand. I have never experienced a "mini cycle" nor do I stir it in nor do I add it in a little at a time. Yes, you will temporarily disturb the bacterial film on the top, but that is not a problem. You can add as much LIVE SAND as you want up to about 2 inches or so ( my favorite is Fiji Pink - it's not actually pink - although this variety is relatively fine so you may need to reduce flow until the bacterial film reattaches). Just siphon the top layer before you add the new sand to remove all the major detritus. You do not need to run a filter sock and DO NOT rinse the sand, and yes the tank will get so cloudy you won't see the other side, but by the next morning the water will be crystal clear again. My technique is to put the bag in the tank upside down while holding the top closed to minimize the air bubbles then pour the sand as evenly as you can and lift the bag out still holding it upside down and squeezing the top closed. Using 5 pound bags is easiest but it seems 10 lb bags are the smallest around these days. That technique minimizes the bubbly film you get on top of the water and the splashing that results when air bubbles escape the bag. The hardest part is if you don't have room for the bag and have to add the sand by the cup. If that is the case then get a 2 inch PVC pipe and pour it through the pipe cup by cup. I have been doing this for 20 years and never had a problem.
EDIT: Live sand usually comes with a small bag of bacteria in a packet. Be sure to not lose it and definitely DO add the bacteria when you are done.
My reef 2017
My reef 2011
My reef 2004
My first reef 2001
EDIT: Live sand usually comes with a small bag of bacteria in a packet. Be sure to not lose it and definitely DO add the bacteria when you are done.
My reef 2017
My reef 2011
My reef 2004
My first reef 2001
Last edited:
noobreefer2
Well-Known Member
I like live fiji pink sand:
amazon: brs: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/fiji-pink-arag-alive-live-reef-sand.html
OP
OP
jp_75
Valuable Member
,i do water change every week and when i do it i clean some sand too. only need to add small bag to make it deeper a bit. plan to add another wrasse who sleeps in sandbed.
thank you all for help!!!!!!
thank you all for help!!!!!!
There still is 0 proof its covered in bacteria... Bacteria die with no oxygen.. You really think this stuff in bags sitting on shelvs has anything really living on it. If it was all live the tank would be instant cycled.. a sand bed can easily sustain a tank with no rocks.. fresh water tanks do it all the time.
Ive still had to wait 4+ weeks for cycles using (live sand)
No id buy dry sand honestly. Those 20 lbs wet live sand bags are only 15 lbs of sand or so. Youre paying for water
Rick Krejci
Active Member
I just added a few inches of Special Grade sand to my Bare Bottom tank 2 months ago and have had absolutely no issues. I went with dry since I didn't want nasty clouds of dust to screw with things, so I rinsed the crap out of it (which would nullify any life on the sand). After thorough washing, I just put some in a ziploc bag and lowered it into the tank and poured it out to where I wanted it. Took about a week to get the full 2" sand bed in. No mini cycle or algae transitions (diatoms, cyano...).
I think the dust and dead "life" of live sand could do more harm that any "life" would do good to an established tank.
Plus you get more for your money.
I think the dust and dead "life" of live sand could do more harm that any "life" would do good to an established tank.
Plus you get more for your money.
NS Mike D
In the arena.
yes. I do. bacteria is very resilient and will leave millions of spores. Anaerobic bacteria are by definition bacteria that live without oxygen. And yes, attend any MACNA conference with tanks that were set up 24 hours earlier. How are they able to cycle that fast?
Rick Krejci
Active Member
Sand has a far smaller denitrfying capability than live rock, particularly when its moved, where previously anaerobic zones are exposed and vice versa.
I'm assuming the MACNA tanks have plenty of live rocks transported and the sand has little to do with it. In fact, Its possible they would use super well rinsed dry sand to prevent clouding and getting sand dust everywhere.
I literally just did this. My advice is don't over think it. I added dry sand, because it's cheaper. And I dang near covered the entire existing sand bed. Then the next week I did it again. Nothing bad happened.
