Adding sand bed to an existing barebottom tank

[schminksbro]

I am looking for suggestions from those who have added a sand bed to a barebottom tank.

[deklin]

Rinse the sand very well in RODI water before adding. Don't use small grain if you have a good amount of flow. I would shutoff powerheads and try to dump most of it in a spot where you don't have much rockwork and use something to spread it around on the bottom later.

[SDguy]

I just filled a big gulp type cup, added it to the tank right side up so that the water filled in with the sand, then just poured the sand in various areas of the tank. After putting a little bit in, I saw where the flow moved it too much, and added larger grain size to those areas.

[Chrisrush]

I used a gallon ziplock bag to add sand. I ended up siphoning it out since it trapped more detritus and added to my HA issues.

[x2uranium]

There is a thread here somewhere about this, which I remember someone using a big 3-4" dia. pvc pipe putting it in and placing it where you want.

[EllieSuz]

I saw a good idea about this a while back. Afix some flexible hose to a large funnel (I got one in the automotive dept at Walmart) and add the washed sand slowly, moving the hose around where you need it.

[roblack]

Why would you go form barebottom to sand? Just curious, as I recently got rid of all my sand in my 2 home tanks in favor of barebottm.

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14495231#post14495231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roblack
Why would you go form barebottom to sand? Just curious, as I recently got rid of all my sand in my 2 home tanks in favor of barebottm.

You are opening up a can of worms with this question. :p :rollface: :blown:

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14495186#post14495186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EllieSuz
I saw a good idea about this a while back. Afix some flexible hose to a large funnel (I got one in the automotive dept at Walmart) and add the washed sand slowly, moving the hose around where you need it.

Just note that WET sand is virtually impossible to do this way.

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14495231#post14495231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roblack
Why would you go form barebottom to sand? Just curious, as I recently got rid of all my sand in my 2 home tanks in favor of barebottm.

I personally added a thin layer of sand purely for looks and to be able to keep certain fish.

After 2.5 years my rocks were done shedding, so I don't get detritus piles anymore.

[schminksbro]

I haven't made up my mind if I am going to do this or not. The BB has it's +s and -s. Really I thought I would like the looks more than I do. I have 7000 gph of flow in a 100 gallon display and the bottom always looks dirty. I can siphon out the bottom and it just comes back. There are also places that I can't get to with a hose.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14495231#post14495231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roblack
Why would you go form barebottom to sand? Just curious, as I recently got rid of all my sand in my 2 home tanks in favor of barebottm.

[MIKE NY]

I just did it myself recently....rinse it well in R/O for less dusting on the rockwork and cloudiness also I used Aragonite Seaflor Special grade sand...a nice size grain that doesn't get blown aorund to much.