can i add more sand to my tank

my 55 gallon tank is allready been up for 3 years just wondering if i could add about 10 more pounds of sand or is that not a good idea

 

yes but you don't want to disturb the existing sand while doing it.

 

whats the best way to add it in a cup and place it around the bottom

 

yea thats fine, just realise depending on the type of sand you get if may cloud the tank. which is harmless to the inhabitants but probably not to good if sizable grain sand gets in your pumps.

 

make sure you spread it out in a fairly thin layer so you don't completely smother the bacteria in the original sand bed under the new sand. absolutely no more than 1/2" layer of new sand at one time.

 

when i added 10 lbs into my tank , i filled up 1 beer stein with sand, and very slowly and gently spread onto my existing. i also spread it around, just not 1 big pile or clump. this didnt smother the bacteria already in the sand.took a while to do but had very little dust kicking up. the other stein i filled up with, beer. just to keep me properly balanced.