Adding More Live Sand

[two11devan]

I have about 40 lbs of LS in my 30 gal tank, that really only makes my sand bed a little over 2 inches. Will this shallow bed hurt any parameters in my tank? I would like to add another 20 lbs or so at some point. What would be the best way to go about this. I got the LS from my LFS...it comes in sealed bags with water in them. Do i need to cure this somehow before i put it in my tank? I don't wanna have any amonia spikes as a result of adding more sand. Is there anyway to get around this or is it just inevitable? Oh yea...I can just put it on top of the existing sand, correct?

 

[steve-s]

An SSB will not hurt your parameters at all but greatly depends on the set up as a whole. My sand bed has been 1-1½" running for the past 7ish years and my nitrates rarely if ever get above 5ppm.

If you wish to add more I wouldn't waste the money on LS. It will become that way on it's own in a very short time. Just add some sugar sized oolitic or aquarium safe playsand on top. Adding a ½" a day or so is best to allow the critters and bacteria in the sandbed to colonize the new sand without being deprived of necessary O2. You will still most likley get a small diatom bloom but nothing to really concern you. Especially if the "crew" is already in place.

The last part of >>this<< article should help..

Cheers
Steve