Xtra Sand
- Thread starter brazilian
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You can also add sand and do a water change at the same time to cut down on the amount of cloudiness.
It's a little tricky and takes an extra set of hands, but it's effective:
Use a piece of hose or PVC as Raj suggested above to add sand carefully. You can attach a funnel to the end of the PVC to make it easier.
As the sand is going into the tank and creating a dust cloud, have a helper use a syphon/tank-cleaner/vacuum thingie to suction the water/dust in that area. The water needs to be going into a fairly large container (Rubbermaid tote, etc.) so you dont have to keep stopping/restarting the syphon. After you've leveled the sand and arranged it the way you want, readd water. Another tip is to place a good-sized glass bowl on the sandbed to pour the new water into to disrupt the new sand as little as possible, or add the water to your sump/fuge.
P. S. -- you don't want to add a very large layer of new sand to old sand as you'll smother the living organisms in the old sand, create die-off and possibly end up with an amonia spike. Add sand a little at a time.
It's a little tricky and takes an extra set of hands, but it's effective:
Use a piece of hose or PVC as Raj suggested above to add sand carefully. You can attach a funnel to the end of the PVC to make it easier.
As the sand is going into the tank and creating a dust cloud, have a helper use a syphon/tank-cleaner/vacuum thingie to suction the water/dust in that area. The water needs to be going into a fairly large container (Rubbermaid tote, etc.) so you dont have to keep stopping/restarting the syphon. After you've leveled the sand and arranged it the way you want, readd water. Another tip is to place a good-sized glass bowl on the sandbed to pour the new water into to disrupt the new sand as little as possible, or add the water to your sump/fuge.
P. S. -- you don't want to add a very large layer of new sand to old sand as you'll smother the living organisms in the old sand, create die-off and possibly end up with an amonia spike. Add sand a little at a time.
I have a pair of brown clowns, a black fish with a withe dot on his back, a snow flake more eel, yellow tang, about 30 crabs and other cleaning crew members, slug and about 8 corals 2 frags, 100 lbs of LR, I think I dont have enough sand on the tank. and I brand new on the Hobby. HEEELLLLLP
skriz
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ok, no problem.
Remember, in the reef, the fish and coral are used to waves crashing all the time. When these waves crash, they kick up sand; thus, your inhabitants won't be negatively affected by your adding sand and making the water cloudy. You will be more bothered by it than they will. Eventually, the water will clear. If you want to filter out the finer particles, you can use a fliter sock or canister filter, although it is not necessary to do so; the finer particles can be quite beneficial.
Remember, in the reef, the fish and coral are used to waves crashing all the time. When these waves crash, they kick up sand; thus, your inhabitants won't be negatively affected by your adding sand and making the water cloudy. You will be more bothered by it than they will. Eventually, the water will clear. If you want to filter out the finer particles, you can use a fliter sock or canister filter, although it is not necessary to do so; the finer particles can be quite beneficial.
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Do not add more then 1/4" of an inch of sand per week. Add as much as you need to establish the look/effect you want but if I was adding more then 1" total I would add it in take a break in between adding sand. Say add 1/4" for 3 weeks then wait about a month and add the other 1/4" for three weeks = 1.5" by the time you are done in 9 weeks.
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Ummm... there is no simple answer to that. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It all depends on what overall system you are running and what you are trying to keep. There are advantages and dis-advantages to each level of sandbed (no sand bed, Shallow Sand Bed or Deep Sand Bed). I would say, with the slug you are going to want a deep sand bed (Over 3" deep). Now, I do have some concerns that you are keeping a slug and an eel in a tank and you are new to the hobby but we will save that for another discussion. 
For now, think about going deep and building up your sand bed slowly. Do you have a refugium?!?
For now, think about going deep and building up your sand bed slowly. Do you have a refugium?!?- Messages
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The worry about the slug was how hard they can be to keep alive for new people without established tanks.
Ok, It is time to pass you off with some homework. It sounds like you are at the stage where you got some late night reading to do so that you can make informed decisions about your tank. I would suggest a book like
Ok, It is time to pass you off with some homework. It sounds like you are at the stage where you got some late night reading to do so that you can make informed decisions about your tank. I would suggest a book like
What kind of slug do you have?
After running a deep sand bed tank without skimmer, and barebottom tank with skimmer, side by side, I am really impressed by the water-cleaning capabilities of the deep sand bed, and am setting up a DSB in my new 55.
If you go for one, definitely read up on it as they are a little controversial apparently, but I am really liking mine so far -- I have never seen a hint of nuisance algae in that tank no matter how much I feed (though I try to be reasonable).
After running a deep sand bed tank without skimmer, and barebottom tank with skimmer, side by side, I am really impressed by the water-cleaning capabilities of the deep sand bed, and am setting up a DSB in my new 55.
If you go for one, definitely read up on it as they are a little controversial apparently, but I am really liking mine so far -- I have never seen a hint of nuisance algae in that tank no matter how much I feed (though I try to be reasonable).
