when to add sand in the refugium

B

bellaroxio

Guest
Today, just switch from wet-dry to refugium. Well kind of. I transferred enough sand from my existing aquarium to fill about 1/2" in the refugium. To keep things constant, I transferred all the live rocks and bio balls from the wet-dry to the refugium. My plan is to run this for about 2 weeks.
In about 2 weeks, remove live rocks and bio balls. Add plants, algae, and light.
My question is when do I add the store-bought live sand to make about 1" to 1 1/2" of sand.
Thanks
 
B

bellaroxio

Guest
OK. Allow me to rephrase the question. With a running-existing tank, is it OK to add sand to tank? Do i have to go through any special steps? Live sand ok? Thanks
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by bellaroxio
http:///forum/post/3283812
Today, just switch from wet-dry to refugium. Well kind of. I transferred enough sand from my existing aquarium to fill about 1/2" in the refugium. To keep things constant, I transferred all the live rocks and bio balls from the wet-dry to the refugium. My plan is to run this for about 2 weeks.
In about 2 weeks, remove live rocks and bio balls. Add plants, algae, and light.
My question is when do I add the store-bought live sand to make about 1" to 1 1/2" of sand.
Thanks
If you remove the live rock and the bioballs from the total system you will comprimise your biofilter. I suggest keeping the live rock, whether in the fuge or the display. The bio balls can be removed about 1/3 one week then 1/3 the next wek etc. Do this at water change time. This will allow the biofilter to catch up by populating more bacteria in other areas. On the sand get dry sand, rinse well then add on top of the exiting sand in quantities of about 1/4 of the bed at a time. This leill leave the other 3/4's of the be uncovered allowing it to repopulate the cover of new sand over the other 1/4.
 
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