Frag Tank into Lagoon ?

[BillB83]

I have a 50 gallon lowboy frag tank setup in my back room I use for like a grow out tank / toss fresh corals in for a few weeks b4 i put in main display and im bored and tinkering around with the idea of adding sand and turning it into like a lagoon style tank and im curious if i add sand can i just add it all at once or is it something i should do slowly ?

Currently its just bare bottom with a sump full of rock.

 

[rishma]

I have a 50 gallon lowboy frag tank setup in my back room I use for like a grow out tank / toss fresh corals in for a few weeks b4 i put in main display and im bored and tinkering around with the idea of adding sand and turning it into like a lagoon style tank and im curious if i add sand can i just add it all at once or is it something i should do slowly ?

Currently its just bare bottom with a sump full of rock.

The first thing that comes to mind is new sand may bind phosphate for a while until the surfaces reach equilibrium with the water. I don’t know how much but it’s common in new tanks. If it were me, I’d have some food grade trisodium phosphate on hand and be ready to test and dose to keep things in range. Otherwise I cannot think of a downside.

I’ve added smaller amounts of new sand to existing tanks and not noticed any issues.

 

[BillB83]

sounds good thanks boys

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think it can be added all at once. Just watch alk and possibly phosphate, as noted above (especially if its on the low end to start with).