Adding A Sand Bed

Riley

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Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Hi, my 33gal tank has been set up for just about 2 years now. For a sand bed right now I only have about 2 inchs thick of aragonite crushed shells. its doing a great job at maintaining my ph, but my personal opinion is that sand beds look better. I was wondering if I would be able to add a layer of sand on top of my aragonite crushed shells? If so would the cruhed shells still maintain my ph? If I do add the sand will it kill the live organisms that are in my aragonite?

-Riley
 
if you put it straight on top you will not get much water and oxygen circulation in your original substrate possibly causing a bacterial or micro organism die off. If you want to use sand, mix it in as well as you can, don't just put it on top.

Also remember to have plenty of sand sifting snails or starfish or maybe even a Blue-Cheek Goby.

Ben
 
Unless you are wanting a deep sand bed then go no deeper than 2 inches. remove the old sand bed and replce if you wish but dont add the other sand on top.
 
Riley dont you have calico shells? Sorry i didnt say this before, but the shells and the sand should mix really nicely, and give a really natural look.
 
I agree with replacing the shell bed...you can pull out the shell stuff and replace it with aragonite sand in stages if you want. SH
 
Maybe a do have calico shells :blink: I forget. but if I do decide to remove the sand bed, how will this affect my tank? removing all that sand that has lots of beneficial bacteria on it and putting ni completely new sand?
or will my live rock just seed the new sand after awhile?

-Riley
 
The bad thing is that it will take a long time to seed again, and smaller sand doesnt have as much particle space. Its better than just calico shells though. But you probably have enough live rock to continue the nitrogen cycle while the new sand seeds. :)
 

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