LR & LS Question.

[rotarygeek]

so i have decided i want a deep sand bed. i only have maybe an inch and a half of argonite in my tank now, but im wondering how i go about adding more sand to an already inhabited tank? do i do it slowly like a cup a day? or is there some fancy tool too add sand to the bottom without causing a dust storm? and is it going to be a problem for me to cover up my sand bad with new sand?

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by RotaryGeek
http:///forum/post/2551943
so i have decided i want a deep sand bed. i only have maybe an inch and a half of argonite in my tank now, but im wondering how i go about adding more sand to an already inhabited tank? do i do it slowly like a cup a day? or is there some fancy tool too add sand to the bottom without causing a dust storm? and is it going to be a problem for me to cover up my sand bad with new sand?
No, no and yes. No don't use a cup, too slow, although it will work. Most common recommendation I've seen is to use a long piece of pvc pipe and a funnel ~ seems like it would work well, though you might need to flush it down the pipe with water. And finally, don't cover your sand with any more than a 1/4 of new sand at a time.

 

[rotarygeek]

Ok so how long should i wait inbetween adding a 1/4 of sand?

 

[scopus tang]

Never done it myself, since I always set them up at the desired depth to begin with, but I would think that a week should be sufficient. Bacteria reproduce fairly quickly and other stuff will migrate. Perhaps someone else will chime in with a better idea of the time.

 

[rotarygeek]

yeah hopefully. thanks for your help anyways.

 

[1journeyman]

I'd only add 1/4 an inch every week or so. Also, make sure you have a strong current sweeping across your sand bed. You don't want detritus settling on your sand bed and getting buried.
To a previous poster, I'd never lump Bristle Worms and Mantis Shrimp into the same category. Bristles are great scavengers and very beneficial to a reef tank. They are also a fantastic indicator species.
When we introduce live rock into our tanks we introduce potentially thousands of species of plants and animals. Over time this diversity diminishes; It does not increase. Some species get outcompeted by others. That's why the more live rock the better. Base rock will only be populated by the most dominant plants and animals. More live rock =Better diversity.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2553433
To a previous poster, I'd never lump Bristle Worms and Mantis Shrimp into the same category. Bristles are great scavengers and very beneficial to a reef tank. They are also a fantastic indicator species.
When we introduce live rock into our tanks we introduce potentially thousands of species of plants and animals. Over time this diversity diminishes; It does not increase. Some species get outcompeted by others. That's why the more live rock the better. Base rock will only be populated by the most dominant plants and animals. More live rock =Better diversity.
Nice answer Journey! I like that a lot.