Adding More Live Sand

[CluelessInNY]

I am noticing jsut now how shallow my layer of LS is...it's about one inch deep. I wonder if it is feasbile to add another layer of sand on top of the layer now in my tank. The sand has been for 3 months now. Does this make any sense at all?

 

[roka64]

Sure does, if you want to add more. Make sure you rinse and turn off your water moving equipment. There are plenty of folks that do this.

 

[cmor1701d]

Just add it a little at a time, like no more than a ½" on top of what you have. You can do that every month till you build it up to the depth you want.

 

[CluelessInNY]

This was all good advice. I finally added about 1/2" layer of LS last night. I DIDN'T rinse the sand and after just one "scoop" I added, the entire tank got very cloudy. I then rinsed the sand off carefully with clean (not tap) water, and waited a couple of hours. I added the rest and the it was better, but still clouded my tank for awhile. BY the time I got to bed, it was almost perfectly clear. This morning it is clear and it appears the fish have all survived.
I wouldn't recommend this maneuver unless you really, really need to, and I did. My goby had only a very light layer of sand to sift through and I needed to add it. I'm glad I did, but nothing beats being ready BEFORE you add livestock to your tank. Live and learn.

 

[roka64]

Cool thanks for the update! There are plenty of folks that add new sand to replinish the sand that has been siphoned out.

 

[cmor1701d]

Glad to hear it went well for you. I assume you will be adding more as time goes on.

 

[CluelessInNY]

Yes, I am giving the little guys a chance to catch their breaths as they recover from the "smog" of last night I'll add the rest of the bag tonight.
They seem just fine today, thank goodness. I wasn't so sure about them last night.
I do think my snails are dying off slowly, not sure why. That has nothing to do with the new sand though.

 

[cmor1701d]

If you are adding to a differnent area of the tank tongiht is fine. If you are adding to the same area you should wait a week so the bacteria and sand critters have time to adjust to the increased depth.