substrate

[ping29]

my tank has been up for 8 months it has no sand/substrate. how do i go about adding it. would like around 1.5 to 2" depth any help would be great. i will be buying it from lfs in bag so i yhink it will be dead not sure. how shall i seed it or will this just happen. thanks always learning then drinking, then drinking sum more then learning

 

[mr_X]

rinse it real well if it is "dead" sand, then drop it in. i would try to fill a cup, then submerge the cup, then dump it so as to limit making the tank a sandstorm.
the seeding will happen after time. you could buy a small amount of live sand from an established reef and seed it with that if you like. maybe find someone close to you and grab a cup full from them.

 

[turnburn]

After washing your sand real good, put into large ziplock freezer bags. Then lower the sealed bags down to the bottom of your aquarium and open the bags carefully. Then just gently wiggle the bags back and forth and the sand should gently slide out. This method worked great for me and barely clouded my water.

 

[SnowManSnow]

keep in mind that you WILL get a dust storm. don't freak out if this happens. It will start to dissipate in a few hrs. Just blow everything off with a turkey baster and you're ready to go!

B

 

[ping29]

great will try and see how it goes. ? i wont go threw a cycle will i

 

[maroonsalty]

If you have any livestock in the tank I think you should plan on housing them in anouther tank for at least a few days until the dust settles. Any change to an estableshed system could possibly bring about a cycling to an unknown degree. Many retailers are selling live sand as an activator, or you may be able to beg a couple cups from someone local. The bacteria "seed" reproduces rapidly and if you are lucky you'll also get some macro-organisms in the mix, and again becuase you're changing the bio stability of your system at least a partial cycling is likely. Don't forget turning off any pumps or powerheads when adding the sand.

 

[SnowManSnow]

YOur livestock will be ok after a few hours...thats my opinion. I just replaced ALL my substrate. And everything was back in within a few hours after the dust set down.

As far as cycling goes, the only thing that I noticed is that I got a very minor diatom bloom that only lasted a few days. Everything seems to be back to normal now though.

b

 

[Ben1]

IIRC Shiemk recommends not rinsing the sand as the fine particle help. I have added sand to a BB tank before and didn't rinse. The important factor is grain size. In that shallow of a bed I would do a 75% oolite and 25% sp. seafloor grade sand.

As mentioned bags would work or bowls to lower it before pouring it. Running your skimmer and dunping it as it fills will get rid of the cloudy water pretty quick.

The live stock will be fine and there will be no cycle when using dry sand. The sand will be seeded by bacteria and pods, bristle worms, ect from your LR. Inland aquatics used to sell a nice kit that had mini brittle stars. They are great if you can get some from a local reefer with a nice sand bed.

Just dont let the bed sit stagnant and fill thick with detritus or you may regret the sand later. IME the deeper the bed the longer it last before problems arise. AS long as you dont let the sand be a set and forget solution you'll be fine.

HTH

 

[bleedingthought]

I agree with Ben on everything he said.