Help with Sand

[truperc]

I currently have a 60 g reef tank that is established with a sand bed of btwn 1.5" - 2".
I am thinking about adding some sand, and I wanted to receive some feedback.
Part of the reason for adding the sand is for a "Recharge" of critters, part is for look, and part is to see if it helps maintain additional stability of chem params.
Questions:
Best way to add sand to a display tank (or should I do this at all).
Was thinking about 1-2 lbs of Live sand and 10 - 20 of inert sand.
Experiences with adding Live Sand to "Recharge" the system with critters (1-2 lbs at most)
And will this small amount of live sand spike the ammonia too high for an active tank. Best ways to get around that? Quarantine tank?
I am probably going to get sugar sized sand - Thoughts on brand?
I have heard that adding inert sand can drop your PH and ALK for a few days. Experiences? Impacts felt?
Thanks in advance for any insights you can provide.

 

[meowzer]

Why add Live? You can add regular sand...just rinse really really good, and add a little at a time...slowly....it will mix with your established sand and become..LIVE

 

[truperc]

The intent of the live would be to add some bio diversity e.g worms, phytoplankton and small crustaceans

 

[meowzer]

OK..well I have read that adding live sand can cause ammonia to spike

 

[sharkbait09]

my sand is regular (non live) and i added lot and lots of biozyme and now its live sand

 

[truperc]

I read about the potential for an ammonia spike, but was not sure 1 to 2 lbs would cause it to go too high.
Critters would be to help with the sifting of the sand, mini clean up crew, natural food source...etc.

 

[truperc]

Bump

 

[teresaq]

if you do this be sure you buy true live sand like they sell here, not the bagged stuff. That just has bacteria, not the live critters you want.
T

 

[oceansidefish]

Best way to get critters is to get a cup or so out of a well established tank or sump..... Check with your local LFS or other local reefers