Question about adding sand to my tank

[mikesmith34]

My sand bed is starting to get a little thin in areas. Some of the loss has been from vacuuming red algae. I have a 90 gallon reef tank with pretty strong flow.

What are the cautions to adding new sand. Will there be an Am. spike caused by a cycle. Reading some of the reviews on BRS for their live sand this seems to be a possibility. I would like to add a larger aggregate to prevent a sand storm (4-1400's on a wave maker). Any input would be much appreciated.

Do I add a little at a time or an entire bag at a time.

 

[y-not]

Jumping on to see the responses.

I added about 20 pounds to my son's BioCube.
He has a Kenya, Frogspawn, GPS and a few zoas in addition to two clowns, a mandarin, a goby and a fighting conch. The conch was the reason for wanting a deeper sand bed.

I created a hell-of-a sand storm. I put it in, cup by cup. Right out of the bag.
Nothing bad happened to the water parameters. It took a few hours for the water to clear up again but I was expecting this so I placed a sheet of fine filter material in the basket. I cleaned that out about every 15 to 30 minutes just to help keep the dust from collecting in the rear chambers.

That was a couple of months ago.
Everything is still as happy as before.

 

[ringo®]

Rinse it well before use or you could see a diatom bloom. As far as adding.....fill up an empty, clean plastic bottle. Submerge the bottle under water right side up. Slowly tilt the bottle when full and add to the desired area

<!-- gcu-updated ame -->http://youtu.be/U73wRwTQ4HM<!-- gcu-updated /ame -->

 

[ralph atl]

that will work!

 

[curtismaximus]

The key is the rinsing. I added about 40# of sand and puka shells and rinced them for about 30 mins straight with a graden hose. I filled up a bucket and poured it out about 100 times or more. Cut all the pumps off and wait 5 mins so the tank is completely still. Add the sand in a container close to the bed. When I did this I had no problems and no sand storm. I didn't buy the live sand, it was the cheaper non live sand and it was fine. Live sand is a rip off in my opinion!

 

[railroadfish]

Does anyone out there have any Mangrove plants to sell or get rid of. Please hit me up and let me know. It would be greatly appreciated. Anthony 678-778-7104

 

[darren24]

I have done this several times over the years. Rinse the hell out of it and then add it. I have never had a problem. I am just cautious when I am siphoning out the old not to disturb the old sand too much...

 

[mikesmith34]

So not adding"live" sand will not create another cycle in the tank. Just to be clear on this? Thanx for all the input