Adding sand to existing tank???
- Thread starter vtfishies
- Start date
S
sinner's girl
Guest
Put the sand in a 5g bucket and fill it with water from your tank. Stir it really good, add a pinch of food and let it sit for a week or so... stir it daily.
reefnut, is this after you rinse the sand or before? I thought I just had to rinse then add it. For food...I don't have sw fish, can I use algea or fw fish food? (I just have stars in my tank, they get algea and shrimp).
btw, curing the sand will coat the sand grains with bacteria which will help prevent clumping.
And this won't cause a cycle when added to the tank?
I've removed all the cc, soon (whenever the heck that is) I'll be moving the tank, at that time I plan to add the sand (just dry, not live) to the tank.
How much sand do I do at a time in a 5gl bucket? I have 8 or so bags of sand (about 80lbs or so), I'm not sure this would all fit in a bucket at once...
Another question, can I put a top on the bucket or does it need air? (I have a kitty...)
Thanks, sorry to hijack the thread with my questions.
Thanks for the help.
reefnut, is this after you rinse the sand or before? I thought I just had to rinse then add it. For food...I don't have sw fish, can I use algea or fw fish food? (I just have stars in my tank, they get algea and shrimp).
btw, curing the sand will coat the sand grains with bacteria which will help prevent clumping.
And this won't cause a cycle when added to the tank?
I've removed all the cc, soon (whenever the heck that is) I'll be moving the tank, at that time I plan to add the sand (just dry, not live) to the tank.
How much sand do I do at a time in a 5gl bucket? I have 8 or so bags of sand (about 80lbs or so), I'm not sure this would all fit in a bucket at once...
Another question, can I put a top on the bucket or does it need air? (I have a kitty...)
Thanks, sorry to hijack the thread with my questions.
Thanks for the help.
reefnut
Active Member
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
reefnut, is this after you rinse the sand or before?
After a good rinsing.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
I thought I just had to rinse then add it. For food...I don't have sw fish, can I use algea or fw fish food? (I just have stars in my tank, they get algea and shrimp).
You risk clumping if you do not cure the sand (I learned this the hard way). FW food or a shrimp will be fine... it does not take much though... just a small amount.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
And this won't cause a cycle when added to the tank?
Shouldn't, if anything it should help prevent a mini-cycle.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
How much sand do I do at a time in a 5gl bucket? I have 8 or so bags of sand (about 80lbs or so), I'm not sure this would all fit in a bucket at once...
Fill the bucket about 3/4 full... use more than one bucket if needed.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Another question, can I put a top on the bucket or does it need air? (I have a kitty...)
Putting a top on will not hurt anything.
reefnut, is this after you rinse the sand or before?
After a good rinsing.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
I thought I just had to rinse then add it. For food...I don't have sw fish, can I use algea or fw fish food? (I just have stars in my tank, they get algea and shrimp).
You risk clumping if you do not cure the sand (I learned this the hard way). FW food or a shrimp will be fine... it does not take much though... just a small amount.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
And this won't cause a cycle when added to the tank?
Shouldn't, if anything it should help prevent a mini-cycle.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
How much sand do I do at a time in a 5gl bucket? I have 8 or so bags of sand (about 80lbs or so), I'm not sure this would all fit in a bucket at once...
Fill the bucket about 3/4 full... use more than one bucket if needed.
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Another question, can I put a top on the bucket or does it need air? (I have a kitty...)
Putting a top on will not hurt anything.
dmitry
Member
I've added a little sand before to my tank. (Not as much as you're adding, though, so what I'm saying may not entirely apply.) I didn't cure the sand, but added it a cup or two at a time (over the course of several weeks) directly to the tank. This to keep the tank from cycling and to keep sandstorms to a minimum. I just worked my way left to right of the tank.
shrimpdady
Member
Why would adding sand cause a cycle?
That doesn't make sense. :notsure:
That doesn't make sense. :notsure:
reefnut
Active Member
Originally Posted by ShrimpDady
Why would adding sand cause a cycle?
That doesn't make sense. :notsure:
IF you get LS from the LFS there could be die off in the bags creating excess nutrients... dry sand, if it has debris of any kind could create excess nutrients. This is why people are using the term "mini-cycle" because it will not cause a full blown cycle.
That said, proper technique will greatly reduce the chances of a mini-cycle.
Why would adding sand cause a cycle?
That doesn't make sense. :notsure:
IF you get LS from the LFS there could be die off in the bags creating excess nutrients... dry sand, if it has debris of any kind could create excess nutrients. This is why people are using the term "mini-cycle" because it will not cause a full blown cycle.
That said, proper technique will greatly reduce the chances of a mini-cycle.
shrimpdady
Member
Originally Posted by ReefNut
IF you get LS from the LFS there could be die off in the bags creating excess nutrients... dry sand, if it has debris of any kind could create excess nutrients. This is why people are using the term "mini-cycle" because it will not cause a full blown cycle.
That said, proper technique will greatly reduce the chances of a mini-cycle.
Why worry then?
The same thing happens when you add a new fish.
IF you get LS from the LFS there could be die off in the bags creating excess nutrients... dry sand, if it has debris of any kind could create excess nutrients. This is why people are using the term "mini-cycle" because it will not cause a full blown cycle.
That said, proper technique will greatly reduce the chances of a mini-cycle.
Why worry then?
The same thing happens when you add a new fish.
shrimpdady
Member
By the way, I hope I don't seem rude.
I am not trying to.
I am not trying to.
S
sinner's girl
Guest
Thanks Reefnut, I was only worried about the cycle since you said the food coated the sand with bacteria. I didn't think dry sand by itself would bother anything as long as I cleaned it. I'll be running fresh fliters and carbon just in case since I'm also moving the tank.
You risk clumping if you do not cure the sand (I learned this the hard way)
Thanks for preventing me from learning the hard way!
You risk clumping if you do not cure the sand (I learned this the hard way)
Thanks for preventing me from learning the hard way!
reefnut
Active Member
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Thanks Reefnut, I was only worried about the cycle since you said the food coated the sand with bacteria.
It will be the good bacteria that helps breakdown nutrients!!
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Thanks for preventing me from learning the hard way!
I hear that... I had a LARGE part of my refuge's sand bed turn very hard. I had to pull it out and replace the sand.
Thanks Reefnut, I was only worried about the cycle since you said the food coated the sand with bacteria.
It will be the good bacteria that helps breakdown nutrients!!
Originally Posted by Sinner's Girl
Thanks for preventing me from learning the hard way!
I hear that... I had a LARGE part of my refuge's sand bed turn very hard. I had to pull it out and replace the sand.
S
sinner's girl
Guest
I hear that... I had a LARGE part of my refuge's sand bed turn very hard. I had to pull it out and replace the sand.
dam! Then I tripple my thanks, because I can't afford to replace this sand...I had to buy it slowly as it was (with extra babysitting money).
another question...once I cure it, do I have to add it to the tank right away or can I just let it sit till I'm ready? I need one bucket for water (I know I'll lose some when I move the tank), I have a ten gallon I can keep the wet sand it...
or should it be cured then added right away?(if so, I'll just get a larger bin from walmart and use the hall tub--the joys of having an extra bathroom!)
dam! Then I tripple my thanks, because I can't afford to replace this sand...I had to buy it slowly as it was (with extra babysitting money).
another question...once I cure it, do I have to add it to the tank right away or can I just let it sit till I'm ready? I need one bucket for water (I know I'll lose some when I move the tank), I have a ten gallon I can keep the wet sand it...
or should it be cured then added right away?(if so, I'll just get a larger bin from walmart and use the hall tub--the joys of having an extra bathroom!)