quick ? re: adding sand via pvc

[trompet3]

I am going to be adding "dead" sand, little by little to my tank which I just moved in order to a) avoid a cycle, and b) to hopefully limit the mess/cloudiness.
I plan on adding it through a pvc tube. I remember a post a while back about possibly wetting the sand before pouring it down, but I don't remember for sure.
I don't quite get the reasoning for this, but I'd appreciate any suggestions.
Also any suggestions regarding the ideal size pvc tube to use would be great.

 

[hookedonreefs]

If I can remember correctly, the wet sand was due to the fact that some people clean their sand before adding it. If you do this you need the sand to be REAL wet in order for it to flow through the tube. As far as the size, I would imagine the bigger the better to a certain degree. (don't use 5 in. wide tubing)

 

[trompet3]

I don't remember it being for cleaning the sand, I thought it had something to do with having trouble getting it in being dry?

 

[clarkiiboi]

I would say what ever size pvc that will make it easiest for you. Maybe the wet sand was LS that comes in bags with water to begin with, just a thought. I never did this, but I guess you could try alittle dry sand and if dont go through the pvc pipe easily change mods.
If your tank is already cycled, which I believe it is, add only about a 1/2 in. at a time (dont forget the snails and such if you have them). HTH. Good Luck.

 

[foulbrew]

I have used 1 1/2 PVC to do this with dry sand. Hold your hand over one end, fill up the pipe. Place the end near the bottom and let the sand out, works great. I have never washed my sand or tried to put wet sand in... not sure how well that would work? Or why you'd need to. I only covered a small portion of my old sand at a time to ensure stability. Did a section every 3 or 4 days.

 

[mebigloser]

I didn't use the pvc method, I used a plastic cup and slowy poured the sand from the cup close to the area I was placing it. I have very little cloudness and the tank settled very quickly with no spikes. I added 150lbs this way.

 

[thomas712]

Ive used 1 1/4" PVC to add some dry sand before, works fine.
Thomas

 

[wrassecal]

My dry sand got clogged up in the pvc pipe, I had a funnel on top and as it went on (I did 100lbs this way) water got in the bottom of the pipe and clogged it. so I just added tank water to get it to flow again. I didn't rinse it. So you can start out dry and if you get a clog just pour in some tank water and it will loosen it up. HTH