Adding Sand To My Reef

[RK1]

Thinking about adding my reef, I have never had sand botton. I have always ket a bare bottom reef. I look at all these beautiful pictures with sand on the bottom. I have an acrylic tank. So the sand scares me a little with scratches. Has anyone else done it. How would the best way to add sand to a tank that is up. Should I do it? What are the benefits? What kind of a mix between live sand and other sand. Thanks for the help.

Ron

 

[Freckles]

I increased my sandbed depth from approx. 1" to 4". I used a tupperware box to add the sand. All I did was add the sand, lowered it to the bottom of the tank & emptied it out slowly. It created a sandstorm, but it cleared up within 2 days. I think you will be really happy with the sandbed. I know I am happy I added to mine. The water is almost 100% crystal clear since adding to mine. I never would have thought that adding more would've helped, but it does. I only wish I would have done it when I first set up my tank. I also added 30 lbs. of livesand on top of the "dead" sand to seed it. I added the sand over a couple of days, too, so it wouldn't hurt my fish.

 

[esmithiii]

I swear by my 4-6" sand bed. I trult believe that it is mostly responsible for the health of my tank and the good water quality. IMO the sand makes it look more like a living eco-system, and less like a tidy display.

Anything less than 4" is generally considered insufficient.

As for the scratching, it can be an issue for acrylic tanks if you use a cleaning magnet. You have to be extra careful when cleaning.

Ernie