Sand..

[J Rog]

I was thinking about replacing my live sand. I don't think it is bad as far as releasing PO4 or nitrates. But it just doesn't have that nice clean look anymore.. I syhon it out every now and then to keep it clean. When i started my tank I bought it "used". Some one just sold me a buch of sand out of exsisting tanks. It is jammed packed with life so i don't want to loose any of that. Would you suggest just putting a nice clean layer of new sand over my current sand instead of changing it out. I know if i chnage it out completly i would have to do it slow over time. :squigglemouth:

 

[cdness]

Add it as a thin layer if you do this. You can always swap out sections of the sand with new stuff and pull out the life you can catch before tossing out the old sand...

 

[mayday610]

Are you running a DSB or a shallow bed?

 

[Alex27]

syphoning is the best way, but also when using aragonite sand, its always a good idea to top off since some will dissolve. This however doesn't happen overnight, it takes time. get a sand sifting goby also, this will keep your sand very clean. just get use to the holes and sand movement these characters create.

 

[J Rog]

Are you running a DSB or a shallow bed?

I have a shallow sand bed

 

[Alex27]

Are you running a DSB or a shallow bed?

This is very important, wasn't thinking about this person having a DSB

 

[mayday610]

I see no problem with placing a layer over top of what you have as long as you keep you bed around 2 inches or less. And like Alex27 said, if using aragonite, it does buffer your water and disolve over time as the "good stuff" is used up. Because of this you may want to even remove some of the sand you currently have in there to make room for more of the "fresh" sand you want to add if you are already close to the 2 inch mark.

 

[Alex27]

If adding sand is a problem, use a pvc pipe to get the sand to go straight to the bottom where it belongs. this will keep the sand from blowing all over the place.

 

[J Rog]

I see no problem with placing a layer over top of what you have as long as you keep you bed around 2 inches or less. And like Alex27 said, if using aragonite, it does buffer your water and disolve over time as the "good stuff" is used up. Because of this you may want to even remove some of the sand you currently have in there to make room for more of the "fresh" sand you want to add if you are already close to the 2 inch mark.

Great! I will have to messure to see where im at after work

 

[J Rog]

If adding sand is a problem, use a pvc pipe to get the sand to go straight to the bottom where it belongs. this will keep the sand from blowing all over the place.

Using PVC is a great idea! I never thought about that :roll:

 

[Alex27]

Using PVC is a great idea! I never thought about that :roll:

Get a 2" wide piece from lowes, excellent tool for dropping sand.

 

[mayday610]

Very much agree! And a clean funnel if you have one helps out as well to load that pipe without spills

 

[J Rog]

Awesome! :)