New sand on top of existing sand?

[Jenn]

Is it ok to add new sand to my existing sandbed which has been there for about 3 years? There are no algaes or anything - it's perfectly clean, I just want a deeper sandbed. Thanks.

[NaCl_H2O]

How much depth do you plan to add? If only an inch or so, probably not a problem. If more, I would suggest stirring it into the old bed a little to get some of the creatures moving through the new stuff. When adding new sand to an existing tank you are REALLY going to have to wash the new sand a BUNCH to keep from clouding up the tank.

Maybe someone else (Gary) can offer more?

[hobogato]

also, use the pvc pipe trick. pour the sand down into the tank thru a piece of pvc that is submerged with one end barely above the sand bed and the other out of the water. this gets the sand to the bottom w/out mixing it into the water on the way down.

[cbianco]

I put an additional 30 pounds of sand in my tank without problem. However, I did not add the 30+ pounds all at once, I did it over time to prevent "suffocation" to the fauna living in the the sand bed.

Good luck! :)

Christopher

[pilot_bell777]

correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't stirring up the sand old sand bed really mess up your water perms????

I know snails, starfish, and fish and such do it but it is more gentle than a human with a big stick! LOL

Just thinking out load.....

[cbianco]

correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't stirring up the sand old sand bed really mess up your water perms????



I agree! Stirring up decaying matter in your sand bed may cause quite a bit of harm to the tank.

Christopher

[Jenn]

Thanks guys. I am worried about the "stirring up" issue as well, so hearing about the pvc pipe trick and the very slow addition, I will do it this way.

I am not sure where my sand has disappeared to over the years, but it is only like 1/2" all along the front of my tank, so I plan on adding another 1" - 2". I am sure some of my regals have redirected it to the back, but I can't get back there to push it back to the front.

[GaryP]

I do that every six months to a year. It helps to use some large diameter PVC like 3". I also cut off the bottom of a milk jug to use as a funnel. Using the PVC you can direct it to exactly where you want it to go.

[Jenn]

Excellent idea! Thanks Gary!

[hammondegge]

I am not sure where my sand has disappeared to over the years

it dissolves

[NaCl_H2O]

I would suggest stirring it into the old bed a little ...

Ok, so maybe I meant to say "Gently Mix" with the top 1/2" or so :roll

Actually, I have a VDSB and my sifter gobie keeps things pretty mixed up, I regularly move his piles around. Top 1" or so of my sand bed is very "mobile"