New Sand

[trinity]

I am wanting to make my sand bed bigger (reef tank) by adding some extra sand plus some stuff of a bigger size (got it from pet shop yesterday can't remember what its called) but its for saltwater tanks.

Can I just add it to the reef tank or do I need to put it through a cycle.

If I need to cycle it, what would be the best and/or easiest process.

1. In a bucket

2. cycle it in my fish only tank

3. cycle it in my reef tank

I dont have much in the way of a SB it is purely a decoration but its getting pretty small and needs a top up. It is located mainly at the front of the tank

[Zev]

I just rinsed my aragonite sand well in a bucket to get the powdery stuff off, then chucked it in - carefully, mind you.

Don't know if this was the right way to do it, but it didn't seem to have any ill effect. I put in about an 25mm worth depth wise, on top of my existing sand.

[Mark]

To prevent the sand from spreading over the rock work. I used a bit of plastic drain pipe long enough to reach the bottom of the tank then poured the sand in it.

[davidb]

I don't worry about that mark... My goby deposits more than enough sand all over my rocks!!!

[JoeBlog]

Anthony Calfo says/suggests not to rinse it.

[reef]

it is best to take out your old sand and replace it with the new sand.

will not be a problem , i have done this many times.

[trinity]

Thanks everyone

Thanks Reef

I will do a clean out, it will give me a good excuse to add the fresh stuff and another excuse to annoy my maroon clown........she does not like any sand getting close to her rock the anemone is on

[Duke]

I syphin sand out of my tank when I do a water changes then rinse it with NSW and then add it back to my tank.

I use a 2inch drain pipe with a funnel on the end so it does not blow around my tank.