Adding sand to an established tank

[agrabow837]

I have had my tank up for about 4 months now and have a scooter blemy, 2 percula clowns, a yellow tang and a cleaner shrimp.
i would like to add more live sand to my tank. is there any danger in just dumping it in there? is there a process I should follow? should i quarantine the fish to one side of the tank?
i do not have an 'emergency tank' to take them out of the tank and put them back in.
thoughts?
thanks.

 

[merredeth]

Others have had success by using PVC pipe and inserting it in the water below the top of the live sand and adding very small amounts of sand spanning over the course of weeks at a time.
It seems to work well, but one has to use very small amounts and it takes weeks to do.
Denise M.

 

[rcdude1990]

yea i took a cup, and slowly lowered the cup to the bottom of the tank and then poured it out slowly dont jus dump it in like nothin
slow and steady is the key

 

[merredeth]

Originally Posted by rcdude1990
yea i took a cup, and slowly lowered the cup to the bottom of the tank and then poured it out slowly dont jus dump it in like nothin
slow and steady is the key
By using the PVC though, you end up keeping more of the good stuff in the surface of your sand rather than using a cup.
Denise M.

 

[mandarin w]

The PVC is the best way to go.

 

[swlover]

A small 1 cup measuring cup works really good, that way you can put it were you want it and you don't have to try to juggle a pipe and poring it in the other end..I've tried both ways and the cup is much better, but like they said small amounts over the coarse of weeks so you don't upset the biological balance and send your tank into a mini cycle. Any sand that gets on LR and corals can be waved away gentally with your hand. Also turn off all powerheads so it dosen't blow it all over.

 

[agrabow837]

Great ideas all. Thanks!