Pouring sand into tank

latidati · 01/01/2011, 09:47 PM

Does anyone have any ideas on how to add sand to an already established tank? I have a 75 gallon tank with fish and some newly developing coral and have to add to the sand bed...but want to do so without harming the fish or distrupting my new coral. Thoughts?

I had someone suggest using a PVC pipe and feeding the sand down to the bottom that way. Anyone ever try that?

snulma1 · 01/01/2011, 09:53 PM

The PVC is a good idea, however make sure your sand is pre-rinsed, or else you will create a sand storm and annoy your coral and fish.

latidati · 01/01/2011, 10:02 PM

Good idea. Tomorrow's the day I try it. Thanks for the tip!

Sk8r · 01/01/2011, 10:12 PM

Add it little patch at a time: you will likely see hair algae on that patch from the contained phosphate on the new sand, which may annoy some corals. But it should be ok.

Grant W · 01/01/2011, 11:03 PM

What I have done in the past is ,of course you have to rinse the sand first and then use a cup of some sort fill it about 2/3 with sand and lower it slowly into the tank letting it fill up with water then lower it to the bottom of tank, empty and repeat. Works a lot better than just dumping it in.

unionredskin22 · 01/01/2011, 11:04 PM

Someone gave me advice to add the sand by rinsing and then packing tightly into a cup and putting it at the bottom of the tank with my hand covering the opening of the cup. Then let it out. Worked pretty good for me!

alanbates12 · 01/01/2011, 11:09 PM

How much sand do you currently have and how much are you wanting to add? Check out this video on shallow sand beds. If you have any doubts about this guy making the video look up www.ipsf.com and read his bio you'll be impressed. The video is a bit dry but watch the whole thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLNj-JxYigM Let me know what you think. Good Luck

Mr.Maska · 01/02/2011, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unionredskin22

Someone gave me advice to add the sand by rinsing and then packing tightly into a cup and putting it at the bottom of the tank with my hand covering the opening of the cup. Then let it out. Worked pretty good for me!

this method worked for me as well

Whisperer · 01/02/2011, 07:21 AM

Try plastic bag, fill it with sand and place it at the bottom of the tank then grab the bottom and slowly pour the sand.

ExFOWLR · 01/02/2011, 07:40 AM

I use a plastic bag also but use a ziploc with a bottom corner cut out. That way you can lower it to the bottom and pour it out exactly where you want it. Just keep the corner closed with your hand until you get it where you want to pour it.

latidati · 01/02/2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanbates12

How much sand do you currently have and how much are you wanting to add? Check out this video on shallow sand beds. If you have any doubts about this guy making the video look up www.ipsf.com and read his bio you'll be impressed. The video is a bit dry but watch the whole thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLNj-JxYigM Let me know what you think. Good Luck

I currently have a 1" sand bed and wanted to add about another inch or so...so about 20 lbs more of sand. That video was pretty interesting..a different take on managing your bed. Thanks for sending it along.

alanbates12 · 01/02/2011, 06:56 PM

I think my sand bed is around 2/3 inches. I do have a couple of gobies that do a good job of cleaning the top layer. Do you know anything that will get a bit lower and help keep the sand bed aerobic?

alanbates12 · 01/02/2011, 06:57 PM

I think my sand bed is around 2 or 3 inches. I do have a couple of gobies that do a good job of cleaning the top layer. Do you know anything that will get a bit lower and help keep the sand bed aerobic?

suds1421 · 01/02/2011, 07:24 PM

I'm not sure if I'm too late but try out your technique in a bucket, could help save you some of the cloudy water.

bderos · 01/30/2011, 12:01 PM

I have an established 120 gallon tank with practically no sand in it. I want to add sand. Can I add 60 pounds of Live Sand now and another 60 pounds of Live Sand in a week?

Suggestions, experience, opinions.

EllieSuz · 01/30/2011, 12:19 PM

First, save your money and don't buy "live" sand. If it's the same stuff I'm thinking of, it's not so much live, but just wet and has been sitting in a bag for who knows how long. Any good quality dried sand will become "live" if you seed it with a cup or so of sand from an established aquarium.

Next, get a good funnel from the automotive department of some place like Walmart. I use one of those long, black ones people use for oil changes. If it needs more length to reach the bottom, you can attach a piece of flexible hose. Then spoon your rinsed sand into the funnel and guide it wherever you want sand added. It works just great without much cloudy water at all.

bderos · 01/30/2011, 12:38 PM

That is a good idea. I am more concerned with the water parameters fluctuating. Should I be concerned with water parameters drastically changing?

Anyone?

01/01/2011, 09:47 PM	#1
latidati Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 5	Pouring sand into tank Does anyone have any ideas on how to add sand to an already established tank? I have a 75 gallon tank with fish and some newly developing coral and have to add to the sand bed...but want to do so without harming the fish or distrupting my new coral. Thoughts? I had someone suggest using a PVC pipe and feeding the sand down to the bottom that way. Anyone ever try that?

01/01/2011, 10:12 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Add it little patch at a time: you will likely see hair algae on that patch from the contained phosphate on the new sand, which may annoy some corals. But it should be ok. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/01/2011, 11:03 PM	#5
Grant W Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Petaluma,Ca Posts: 2,840	What I have done in the past is ,of course you have to rinse the sand first and then use a cup of some sort fill it about 2/3 with sand and lower it slowly into the tank letting it fill up with water then lower it to the bottom of tank, empty and repeat. Works a lot better than just dumping it in. __________________ Really honey, I'm not going to buy anything at the fish store I'm just going to have a look. The Other Pres. at Wine Country Reefers. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon SPS dominant tank, custom lighting, etc, etc

01/01/2011, 11:09 PM	#7
alanbates12 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 900	How much sand do you currently have and how much are you wanting to add? Check out this video on shallow sand beds. If you have any doubts about this guy making the video look up www.ipsf.com and read his bio you'll be impressed. The video is a bit dry but watch the whole thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLNj-JxYigM Let me know what you think. Good Luck Last edited by alanbates12; 01/01/2011 at 11:21 PM.

01/02/2011, 07:21 AM	#9
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Try plastic bag, fill it with sand and place it at the bottom of the tank then grab the bottom and slowly pour the sand. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

01/01/2011, 09:53 PM	#2
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	The PVC is a good idea, however make sure your sand is pre-rinsed, or else you will create a sand storm and annoy your coral and fish.

01/01/2011, 10:02 PM	#3
latidati Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 5	Good idea. Tomorrow's the day I try it. Thanks for the tip!

01/01/2011, 11:04 PM	#6
unionredskin22 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tulsa Posts: 57	Someone gave me advice to add the sand by rinsing and then packing tightly into a cup and putting it at the bottom of the tank with my hand covering the opening of the cup. Then let it out. Worked pretty good for me!

01/02/2011, 07:40 AM	#10
ExFOWLR Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pleasant Prairie,WI Posts: 228	I use a plastic bag also but use a ziploc with a bottom corner cut out. That way you can lower it to the bottom and pour it out exactly where you want it. Just keep the corner closed with your hand until you get it where you want to pour it.

01/02/2011, 06:56 PM	#12
alanbates12 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 900	I think my sand bed is around 2/3 inches. I do have a couple of gobies that do a good job of cleaning the top layer. Do you know anything that will get a bit lower and help keep the sand bed aerobic?

01/02/2011, 06:57 PM	#13
alanbates12 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 900	I think my sand bed is around 2 or 3 inches. I do have a couple of gobies that do a good job of cleaning the top layer. Do you know anything that will get a bit lower and help keep the sand bed aerobic?

01/02/2011, 07:24 PM	#14
suds1421 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 121	I'm not sure if I'm too late but try out your technique in a bucket, could help save you some of the cloudy water.

01/30/2011, 12:01 PM	#15
bderos Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Hollywood, CA Posts: 229	I have an established 120 gallon tank with practically no sand in it. I want to add sand. Can I add 60 pounds of Live Sand now and another 60 pounds of Live Sand in a week? Suggestions, experience, opinions.

01/30/2011, 12:19 PM	#16
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	First, save your money and don't buy "live" sand. If it's the same stuff I'm thinking of, it's not so much live, but just wet and has been sitting in a bag for who knows how long. Any good quality dried sand will become "live" if you seed it with a cup or so of sand from an established aquarium. Next, get a good funnel from the automotive department of some place like Walmart. I use one of those long, black ones people use for oil changes. If it needs more length to reach the bottom, you can attach a piece of flexible hose. Then spoon your rinsed sand into the funnel and guide it wherever you want sand added. It works just great without much cloudy water at all. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

01/30/2011, 12:38 PM	#17
bderos Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Hollywood, CA Posts: 229	That is a good idea. I am more concerned with the water parameters fluctuating. Should I be concerned with water parameters drastically changing? Anyone?

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