Does Special Grade Reef sand have to be vacuumed?

[JimD]

One inch or less.

[sharkboy]

most display sand beds are mainly for aesthetics since they are probably less than 5-6" deep...a lot of people incorporate deep sand beds in refugiums to help with nitrification

[DSAfanatic]

I don't have any sand in mine either, but I'm thinking about adding some. I am constantly having issues with my PH. I can not seem to get my calcium reactor dialed in correctly and my PH is always at 7.8.

[DSAfanatic]

Will it be an issue if I had sand to an already established tank?

[Daniel]

I don't have any sand in mine either, but I'm thinking about adding some. I am constantly having issues with my PH. I can not seem to get my calcium reactor dialed in correctly and my PH is always at 7.8.

Have you tried a daily regiment of 2 part? I have no problems with my ph and I have zero sand in display nor in my sump, but I do have alternating light schedules.

[rz1a]

What's your pH at night? To be honest I dont even bother with pH anymore.. I cant even remember when the last time i checked it was.. I was always worried about it when I first started out in this hobby though

I think as long as you maintain your alkalinity from 8-10 dkh you shouldnt focus too much on it.. only time id freak out was if I added too much kalkwasser. Adding sodium carbonate (?) will temporarily increase pH and raise alkalinity

Kalkwasser is used to maintain alkalinity, calcium, and also raises pH

[rz1a]

oh and before adding sand, find what grade of sand will be the best. there's many different sizes out there. you might want to see if youd have to wash out the sand before adding it as well and what would be the best way to add it if you wanted to go ahead with it

[JimD]

"Adding sodium carbonate (?) will temporarily increase pH and raise alkalinity"

Calcium Hydroxide (Kalkwasser), I think thats what you meant, correct?

[ballardjr2000]

baking soda will raise the PH i have done it and works great its cheap and works well

[CoryDude]

Not getting into the BB vs sand debate. Purely a matter of taste IMO.

Rz1a, I would bet this type of sand is a little too course for sand dwellers. I mainly went with it because I hated how the sugar sized sand would blow around with almost any amount of flow.