Best way to add sand to a established tank?

m and m · Mar 7, 2011

So I searched for this topic and couldn't find any info on it. I hate sand beds it means no nice current on the bottom. But I love my wrasses and like some one just told me why not give them the best home possible? As of right now i have only flashers which dont use sand to sleep but would like a few that do. So what is the safest way to add live rock with ZERO chance of anything happening? I was going to use that pre-cured sand, would it be best to cook it first and add it in four quarters?

FishLipz · Mar 7, 2011

If you really hate the sandbed and want an easy fix for the wrasse, try putting a suitable sized container of sand on the bottom for the wrasse to sleep in. That is if you have the space. Its the next best option if you don't want the hassle of a full sandy bottom

m and m · Mar 7, 2011

I would think that would look weird. I Hate SB for two reasons, one i hate when it is fine and flys all over, and two i hate to clean it and the possibility's of negative it brings.

FishLipz · Mar 7, 2011

My buddy just keeps his container behind the rockwork so you barely know its there. If you had space of course.

m and m · Mar 7, 2011

Maybe ill try that and see where it goes. I do have ton of space i could hide a 5 by 8 container. Do you think the little inch deep Pyrex glass containers will be fine? Also the lets say potter will find this sand bed to sleep in?

Jcr's Reef · Mar 7, 2011

Tropic Eden is really good sand, and IMO, the best as far as clean sand goes. I added it to my already established tank for my wrasses as well. I didn't rinse it and it didn't cloud the water at all. No problems what so ever. FWIW, I wouldnt use the smallest grain size if you like flow and I would recommend using a larger one . I used the small grain size first, then removed it and replaced it with the bigger grain size. Now my wrasses and I both are happy.

spscrazy · Mar 7, 2011

I have added sand several times to keep up my dsb I have 36x24x24 90 g mixed reef tank I used live sand but rinsed it 5 lbs at a time with r/o water till it was as clear as the water would get. I turned off all water movers & waited till the water was still. then I put the sand in a small cup slowly lowered it into the tank & slowly poured it evenly across the bottom I did 5 lbs waited a week then 5 lbs more took a month total. since I already had critters in my sandbed I didn't want to add too much at a time so they would have time to relocate upwards after each addition I took a turkey baster & blew any sand off the rocks etc (no matter how careful I was there was still some that floated & settled on rocks etc.) water still had a bit of a cloudyness but went away after about a hour. never saw any ill effects on tank inhabitants

FishLipz · Mar 7, 2011

I would assume so. My radiant sleeps in only a 1-2 inch sand bed fine. Given the option of sand in a dish or nothing I'd hope he go sand.

Troylee · Mar 7, 2011

ya he will find it... wrasses are very smart from my exp with them....that size container should be fine also... if it dont work out you can always dump the dish and begin to fill the bottom slowly over a couple weeks...

Reef UP · Mar 7, 2011

If you're using the pre-cured stuff just cut the corner off the bag and hold that corner in one hand and put that corner all the way to the bottom of the tank and slowly dump out and there will be very little cloudiness.
If you don't like sand blowing around mix a few different grades together I have done this and I have about 8500gph going through my tank and sand never moves! And I have sugar grade-crushed coral and it looks good to me and I never clean it either, for like 5+ yrs now!

Tabasco1 · Mar 7, 2011

What would be the recommended minimum sand bed depth to make a wrasse happy?

dnov99 · Mar 7, 2011

Whenever I have added new sand, which is precured (like the caribsea) I used a section of 2" pvc and poured the sand in with a funnel. The sand went right to the bottom and I had very little clouding effect.

FishLipz · Mar 7, 2011

Tabasco1 said:
What would be the recommended minimum sand bed depth to make a wrasse happy?

I have maybe 2 inches of sand and my 4 inch radiant has never seemed unhappy.

Reef UP · Mar 7, 2011

Tabasco1 said:
What would be the recommended minimum sand bed depth to make a wrasse happy?

Depends on the wrasse but 2-3" would be optimal but with some of the smaller wrasses you could do an 1"

Wy Renegade · Mar 7, 2011

m and m said:
So I searched for this topic and couldn't find any info on it. I hate sand beds it means no nice current on the bottom. But I love my wrasses and like some one just told me why not give them the best home possible? As of right now i have only flashers which dont use sand to sleep but would like a few that do. So what is the safest way to add live rock with ZERO chance of anything happening? I was going to use that pre-cured sand, would it be best to cook it first and add it in four quarters?

Some flashers do use sand to sleep, and from my research on the McCoskers, will also dive down into the sand when frightened.

dnov99 said:
Whenever I have added new sand, which is precured (like the caribsea) I used a section of 2" pvc and poured the sand in with a funnel. The sand went right to the bottom and I had very little clouding effect.

+1 once you get a sandbed started, never add more than about a 1/4 of new sand on top of it at a time.