Adding to the sand bed - Das 100 gal system

L

LawAndArt

[My tank has been running for about 18 months now and I'm starting to notice that my sandbed looks a little thin in places. I think I would like to add some sand to it, but I want to disturb my system as little as possible. I was thinking of adding the sand primarily under the internal filter box. I initally used a "live sand" from the LFS, but I don't think that's a good idea now because it will likely cause an amonia spike and who needs that. I'm thinking dry sand, but I'm not sure what kind and where to buy it. Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?]
 
[You can buy a bag of Aragonite based sand from the LFS for under $30. It is clean and rinsed, and probably slightly moist. Put some in a siplock bag, turn off the pumps, lower the bag into your tank and release the sand very gently where you need it. Restart your pumps, and you're done.

I would suggest you only add a 1/2" at a time, over a few days.]
 
[Another great trick is....

Put the sand in the zip lock...like Marc said...but moisten it and freeze it.....that way you can drop it in exactually where you want the sand to be and watch it desolve...not only do you get the sand where you want it...but it looks cool too...

:beer:]
 
[Wouldn't it float up? Is the sand heavy enough during dissolving to stay in place?]
 
[The Carib-Sea Argalive product is already rinsed and does not cloud the water hardly at all. Another way I have heard of adding sand is to use a pvc pipe. Put the pipe on the bottom where you want the sand and pour some in then slowly lift the pipe and let the sand come out.]
 
[I was thinking the same thing, why not use arag-alive? I dont see why there woudl be a huge ammonia spike, and it would add more bio-diversity.]
 
[Marc...

I have done it several times....It stays in place...and just kinda melts...the sand just falls to the bottom of the sand bed...no muss...no fuss...


I froze 5 zip lock sandwich bags of sand....and have used every one...]
 
[Thanks for the suggestion. That's a <font color="blue">cool</font> solution.]
 
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