Would topping off my SB with new sand be bad idea?

RioReefr · 09/11/2019, 02:38 PM

I have my tank for 2 years and feel like finally it is "established" and things look good.

For only aesthetic purpose, I have some brand new white sand (CaribSea Aragonite) that I want to add to the tank to make it look really nice.

Admittedly, I stopped vacuuming my 1" DS long time ago as I would just get nasty nitrogen spikes leading to algae breakouts. Per some video (I can't remember), someone suggested just using coral feeder and blowing the detritus off the SB into the water column. This is what I do now ,but thing just don't look pretty.

So, this is my question. I was going to stir the SB, but not vacuum it. Then add a thin layer of brand new sand. Will this have any negative affect on the tank?
I have a whole slew of spaghetti worms in SB and know this is a good thing. Will that negatively affect them?

mcgyvr · 09/11/2019, 06:26 PM

I do not suggest disturbing a sand bed that has not been continually stirred..
You can add more sand just dont disturb whats there..

D-Nak · 09/11/2019, 07:01 PM

It'll look nice for about 5 minutes. Then the new sand will blend into your existing sand and it'll look just like it used to.

At only 1" high, you probably don't have much anaerobic bacteria. Stirring it will probably do more harm than vacuuming it. My recommendation would be to carefully vacuum it during your next water change, doing only half of the tank. Next water change do the other side.

billdogg · 09/12/2019, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Nak

It'll look nice for about 5 minutes. Then the new sand will blend into your existing sand and it'll look just like it used to.

At only 1" high, you probably don't have much anaerobic bacteria. Stirring it will probably do more harm than vacuuming it. My recommendation would be to carefully vacuum it during your next water change, doing only half of the tank. Next water change do the other side.

^^^This^^^

I, for one, cannot imagine keeping an aquarium without having a python siphon available for routine cleanings. No buckets, no spill, and it allows you to clean your sand bed as much (or as little) as needed. I would go with no more than 1/4 - 1/3 of the sand per cleaning.

RioReefr · 09/12/2019, 03:59 PM

So far, I have not done anything in regards to adding sand as I am still researching doing.

Why do you guys recommend only a small amount (1/4 - 1/3) of the SB at a time? Is it because of a spike of ammonia/nitrites into the water column?

Admittedly, I used to vacuum the entire tank and noticed in a couple of days my corals would close up and get algae booms. So now, I don't vacuum anymore. I probably have not vacuumed the SB for at least 1 years. Once a week, I take Coral Feeder and blow the detritus into the water column, then in about 1 hour I take out the filter sock. After about 1 hour, when things settle down. I do my 10% water change.

falconut · 09/12/2019, 05:32 PM

I had about 2-3" sand bed in my old tank & would occasionally siphon the sand. As others have said, only did sections to avoid releasing too much at one time. This was if I left it undisturbed for a while.

My understanding is that adding small amounts of sand is to avoid a cycle. I've done this without issue. I would use the siphon tube to get the sand to the bottom, so it didn't get blown around on its way down to the bottom.

billdogg · 09/12/2019, 06:26 PM

When you vacuum the sb, you are removing not only the detritus but also some of the good stuff like bristle worms and pods. If you remove too much it will take awhile repopulate the good guys.

09/11/2019, 02:38 PM	#1
RioReefr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 394	Would topping off my SB with new sand be bad idea? I have my tank for 2 years and feel like finally it is "established" and things look good. For only aesthetic purpose, I have some brand new white sand (CaribSea Aragonite) that I want to add to the tank to make it look really nice. Admittedly, I stopped vacuuming my 1" DS long time ago as I would just get nasty nitrogen spikes leading to algae breakouts. Per some video (I can't remember), someone suggested just using coral feeder and blowing the detritus off the SB into the water column. This is what I do now ,but thing just don't look pretty. So, this is my question. I was going to stir the SB, but not vacuum it. Then add a thin layer of brand new sand. Will this have any negative affect on the tank? I have a whole slew of spaghetti worms in SB and know this is a good thing. Will that negatively affect them?

09/11/2019, 06:26 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I do not suggest disturbing a sand bed that has not been continually stirred.. You can add more sand just dont disturb whats there.. __________________ Who me?

09/11/2019, 07:01 PM	#3
D-Nak Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 5,797	It'll look nice for about 5 minutes. Then the new sand will blend into your existing sand and it'll look just like it used to. At only 1" high, you probably don't have much anaerobic bacteria. Stirring it will probably do more harm than vacuuming it. My recommendation would be to carefully vacuum it during your next water change, doing only half of the tank. Next water change do the other side. __________________ Tank info: 120 gallon 48x30x20 high DT. Clownfish breeding rack in full swing: C-Quest Onyx, Bali Aquarich P1 Picasso + Rod's Onyx, wild percula + Rod's Onyx.

09/12/2019, 05:32 PM	#6
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I had about 2-3" sand bed in my old tank & would occasionally siphon the sand. As others have said, only did sections to avoid releasing too much at one time. This was if I left it undisturbed for a while. My understanding is that adding small amounts of sand is to avoid a cycle. I've done this without issue. I would use the siphon tube to get the sand to the bottom, so it didn't get blown around on its way down to the bottom. __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

09/12/2019, 06:26 PM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	When you vacuum the sb, you are removing not only the detritus but also some of the good stuff like bristle worms and pods. If you remove too much it will take awhile repopulate the good guys. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/12/2019, 03:59 PM	#5
RioReefr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 394	So far, I have not done anything in regards to adding sand as I am still researching doing. Why do you guys recommend only a small amount (1/4 - 1/3) of the SB at a time? Is it because of a spike of ammonia/nitrites into the water column? Admittedly, I used to vacuum the entire tank and noticed in a couple of days my corals would close up and get algae booms. So now, I don't vacuum anymore. I probably have not vacuumed the SB for at least 1 years. Once a week, I take Coral Feeder and blow the detritus into the water column, then in about 1 hour I take out the filter sock. After about 1 hour, when things settle down. I do my 10% water change.