Sand Questions

I only have about 1'' of sand in my tank right now, its a 135 gallon. I really want to add more...like another 2 inches at least.

Can I buy "dead" sand at a local store and add it in? If so what kind...I see some 30 lb bags sometimes at Petsmart for $30. Does home depot carry anything compatible with reef tanks?

Will it become live sand eventually and how long will it take?

Also I am thinking to add it with a piece of plastic pipe and pour it down there...spreading it out. Is that the way to add sand or is there better/proven method?

 

less than $1 a pound shipping included
Sand

 

Oh My God....what great prices! Thanks so much.

 

Can that sand go in an established aquarium and what the recommended way to add it?

 

you can put most any sand you buy into a tank (bagged sand not sand form a sandbox or something).

Adding another 2 inches to a 1 inch sand bead will create a cycle within your tank be it live or dead sand.

having live sand only means you have sand that contains some sort of biology. if your current sand in your tank has little critters and pods and other things, adding dry sand is fine as after awhile it will be inhabited by your tank inhabitants.
Adding live sand will just add more living things into your tank rapidly and will add to the diversity.

What you have to worry about is the mini cycle you will create when adding sand or anything to your tank for that matter.

If your adding that much sand I would do it in stages over a couple of months (regardless of live or dry sand) and do it one area of the tank at a time instead of just blanketing the entire tank to allow the critter time to move into the new sand and to lesson the cycle.

I like your idea of pouring the sand down a pipe tho.

 

I would play it safe tho and just buy the sand at petco/mart or LFS as i have no idea where homeD gets their sand from. but yes, the dry sand will become "live" over time in your tank.

 

How can I avoid it from cycling? Can I put the sand in a rubbermaid for a week with some ro-salt water, heated? Will that eliminate a cycle?

 

Just add a little sand each day over the course of a week or 2. I use a piece of 2" diameter PVC pipe and a funnel, and just pour it into the area I want it. once the cloudiness settles I'll use a long handled slotted spoon to spread it out if needed.

you can avoid a cycle but it will take patience as you add a little sand every couple of days.