You will be fine, just add the sand in small quantities below water level.
These are the best ways to do it. Far less cloud and it’ll clear up real quick if you do get some disturbance. But these ways have always been my go to.
tbsaltwater.com
I'd love to use TBS sand and live rocks for like a macro algae tank... Maybe coldwater with a spotted jawfish or seahorses. This hobby gets out of hand real quick, it's one idea after the other hahaI'm going to offer some possibly unpopular advice here
The Ocean Direct sand is, I believe, the *best* live-sand-in-a-bag product as far as it contains the most diverse collection of microbes. I'm not saying all those microbes survive or would be beneficial to a tank in the long-term, but again, this live-sand-in-a-bag has the most microbes compared to other live-sands-in-a-bag, as per the BRS testing.
The Ocean Direct sand is also full of silt
Personally, I don't consider these live-sands-in-a-bag to be truly live sand. I consider these sands to be dry sands, with some bottled bacteria added.
With that in mind, I would: A) Pick another sand. The benefits of this Ocean Direct sand I believe are marginal, and I wouldn't worry about preserving the microbiome that it may or may not come with. Other sands-in-a-bag are quite a bit cleaner, as far as the silt. I would honestly treat all live-sands-in-a-bag as dry sands with bottled bacteria.
Or B) Rinse the sand. You can rinse it in full saltwater if you're concerned with preserving the bacteria it may or may not have. Or, you can rinse it in tap water, or some people use RODI water. You're just trying to get the silt out, the bacteria will come back in your tank.
Or C) Consider *real* live sand from a mariculture facility like Tampa Bay Saltwater. This sand is truly live, it comes with a wide variety of macro and micro critters that many reefers believe goes a long way to starting your tank off with the best start.
Behold!
Ultra Live Sand
Tampa Bay Saltwater sustainably farms ocean aquacultured live rock and hand harvested sand. TBS Live Rock provides beneficial microorganisms, creates a less stressful environment for inhabitants and provides natural biofiltration by the lifeforms found in and on it. Healthy live rock, from our...
TBS rock and sands are absolutely awesome, you wouldn't be disappointed
It’s funny I lived Florida for 20years and when you went to any fish store that sold live rock Tampa Bay was the cheapest and I mean cheap . I have had there rock and I also had to deal with all the pest that come with it . Fire worms , gorilla crabs and in and on . You used to be able to go to there facility back in the day and I bought rock directly from the previous owner . The silt doesn’t bother me it’s in all live sand and TB charging 165.00 plus shipping for 20lbs of live sand is a joke . I understand how inflation works and I also understand the lack of other options lets TB charge what ever they want for live sand and rock .I'm going to offer some possibly unpopular advice here
The Ocean Direct sand is, I believe, the *best* live-sand-in-a-bag product as far as it contains the most diverse collection of microbes. I'm not saying all those microbes survive or would be beneficial to a tank in the long-term, but again, this live-sand-in-a-bag has the most microbes compared to other live-sands-in-a-bag, as per the BRS testing.
The Ocean Direct sand is also full of silt
Personally, I don't consider these live-sands-in-a-bag to be truly live sand. I consider these sands to be dry sands, with some bottled bacteria added.
With that in mind, I would: A) Pick another sand. The benefits of this Ocean Direct sand I believe are marginal, and I wouldn't worry about preserving the microbiome that it may or may not come with. Other sands-in-a-bag are quite a bit cleaner, as far as the silt. I would honestly treat all live-sands-in-a-bag as dry sands with bottled bacteria.
Or B) Rinse the sand. You can rinse it in full saltwater if you're concerned with preserving the bacteria it may or may not have. Or, you can rinse it in tap water, or some people use RODI water. You're just trying to get the silt out, the bacteria will come back in your tank.
Or C) Consider *real* live sand from a mariculture facility like Tampa Bay Saltwater. This sand is truly live, it comes with a wide variety of macro and micro critters that many reefers believe goes a long way to starting your tank off with the best start.
Behold!
Ultra Live Sand
Tampa Bay Saltwater sustainably farms ocean aquacultured live rock and hand harvested sand. TBS Live Rock provides beneficial microorganisms, creates a less stressful environment for inhabitants and provides natural biofiltration by the lifeforms found in and on it. Healthy live rock, from our...
I agree it's expensive, but I don't think there's anything better than TBS rock and sand. The stuff that comes in bags isn't even close
What doesn’t compare , beneficial organisms or the pest . They both have there pros and cons . Adding something that does have some good bacteria or taking a chance on getting some type of pest that you have to fight to get rid of . You say there’s nothing better (Maybe because all the good live rock is exported anymore and that’s really your only option )The issue is there is no where near the options of good live rock anymore . I don’t know how long you have been in this hobby but if have been in for awhile you know the difference. I will not use there products. I have in the past and won’t use it again . I learned my lessonI agree it's expensive, but I don't think there's anything better than TBS rock and sand. The stuff that comes in bags isn't even close
I've been keeping saltwater tanks off and on since about 1984, freshwater even longer. I have zero problems with the potential pests that may or may not come with TBS rocks, there's nothing that can't be dealt with, in my experience
Well if you have been in since 84 then you now that TB used to be the bottom of live rock . Does it have beneficial bacteria yes . Does it have a bunch sponges / filter feeders that die off . Can it harbor fire worms that when you find out you have to catch them or tear your rock apart to get them out when they start eating your fish . Do they harbor mantis shrimp , gorilla crab I can keep going on . The issue is there is really no other option for live rock and because of that doesn’t make it the best.I've been keeping saltwater tanks off and on since about 1984, freshwater even longer. I have zero problems with the potential pests that may or may not come with TBS rocks, there's nothing that can't be dealt with, in my experience
What doesn’t compare , beneficial organisms or the pest . They both have there pros and cons . Adding something that does have some good bacteria or taking a chance on getting some type of pest that you have to fight to get rid of . The issue is there is no where near the options of good live rock anymore . I don’t know how long you have been in this hobby but if have been in for awhile you know the difference.I agree it's expensive, but I don't think there's anything better than TBS rock and sand. The stuff that comes in bags isn't even close
Be careful with live sand! I had to add sand to my 42g bowfront because I was syphoning sand out while cleaning the bottom and discarding it (dummy me)! I used caribsea live sand from my lfs and had a dyno outbreak that lasted several months! I would advise to use dry aragonite sand WELL rinsed. The microfauna in your old sand will repopulate the new sand. I now rinse the sand that I syphon while cleaning the bottom and put it back!
I'm sorry you had some difficulty changing sands
