I added 300 lbs of sand to my tank, will this affect my future tests?

[Miami Reef]

Tank is 400 gallons. I had 100lbs of sand before, but it only lightly covered the bottom. I added 300lbs today and the tank looks much better.

I thought my tank was 300 gallons, but when I did a sample dose of alkalinity with the BRS calculator, I did the math and found out that the level I dosed raised equaled 433 gallons.

Anyway, I removed about 10-15 gallons of tank water after the addition of sand.

Do I need to test my calcium and Alkalinity levels again if I just tested them yesterday? I’m assuming I will have to adjust my dose because I have less volume of water.

Will my ph change with the new sand? Is there anything I should watch out for with this new large addition of sand? It’s very fine sand and it’s a 2 inch sand bed. I’m only worried chemical wise.

One more question: do I need to do a water change after adding sand? I’m positive my parameters are still in a healthy range.

 

[Gp!]

If you are uncomfortable with unit conversions you can type dimensions into Google and it will do the work for you. For example, 40 in x 30 in x 20 in to gallons. I would double check before deciding there is 100 gallons extra in your display than the dimensions calculate

 

[brandon429]

Post full tank pics we need to see them badly

 

[Darren in Tacoma]

I would think this could affect PO2. Rocks and sand absorb and release phosphates until an equilibrium is achieved.

 

[Miami Reef]

Post full tank pics we need to see them badly

Why badly? Is everything ok?

 

[Miami Reef]

I did the unit conversion…it says 250 gallons. Interesting. I really did not see that coming because 250 gallons look much smaller than mine.

 

[Miami Reef]

 

[Miami Reef]

I guess it was silly to depend on some alkalinity calculator to determine my levels because my tank could be 250 gallons but the amount of corals I have consume much more than that. It’s weird because I dose and test the morning after. I don’t think it’s possible that my alk drops that low in one day because it’s pretty stable after. I wait about 4-5 days before 1dkh will drop.

 

[brandon429]

How do you get hundreds of pounds that clean, nicely done. What kind of sand were you able to add right in with no massive cloud

 

[Miami Reef]

I used live sand from Carib sea ocean direct and nature’s sand. I got the super fine size.

It did cloud at first, but I closed all the power heads and let the overflow flow into my 5 micron socks. Then I purchased filter floss and stuffed it into the overflows.

I also purchased a bottle of flocculant from PetSmart (science stuff that basically binds particles and allows it to become dense to be easily removed with filters). They include it with the live sand but the little packets are not enough for a large volume of water. I poured the whole bottle which was rated for 400 gallons.

And that’s it. I even have before and after pictures

 

[Miami Reef]

These pictures were taken at 3pm on iPhone. It’s 6 hours later now and I’ll post new pictures.

 

[Miami Reef]

Update picture taken just now. I did not rinse any of the sand

 

[brandon429]

Well that was well done, truly a clean approach there!

 

[KrisReef]

Interesting thread. I would guess a total of 200lbs of sand just looking at the photo. It will be interesting to see if you do observe a drop/increase in pH or dkH from the sand addition, again, I don't think I would have even thought to check either, but I should have I guess?

Please update with the observed parameter changes if you do see anything obvious. (Thanks!0
K

 

[Miami Reef]

Just tested…dropped by 1dkh since yesterday. Maybe the water loss?

 

[Miami Reef]

I did a parameter check.

Alk: 9.8
Calcium: 460
Phosphates 0.04
Nitrates 5ppm

I keep my alk at 11dkh so besides for that everything was perfect. My phosphates tested exactly the same a few days ago. I personally would like to see it more higher. I’m contemplating if I should dose phosphates because I’m feeding 6+ times a day of frozen. Seaweed daily in clip, but I’m still not getting higher results. I honestly had to pour a reasonable amount of pellets to get phosphates to where it’s at now.

 

[Shirak]

Looking good! Starting to fill in nicely

 

[KrisReef]

Thanks for checking. and posting your findings.

I would guess that the sand may continue to "consume" dKh for awhile and eventually come to equilibrium?

 

[Miami Reef]

Thanks for checking. and posting your findings.

I would guess that the sand may continue to "consume" dKh for awhile and eventually come to equilibrium?

Really? I thought sand gives out alkalinity when the ph drops. I thought when the water becomes more acidic it dissolves the sand which adds back calcium and alkalinity.

 

[KrisReef]

Really? I thought sand gives out alkalinity when the ph drops. I thought when the water becomes more acidic it dissolves the sand which adds back calcium and alkalinity.

I'm not RandyFH, but I think the rock and sand exchange ions until they establish equilibrium. Since your dKh dropped, I am assuming that the new sand has caused the alkalinity (wrong term, right measurement) to bond to the sand, hence the drop you measured. It may be done? It may continue? Keep an eye out.

Yes, if you get low oxygen spots in the sand you can get low pH that can dissolve the sand. That would have raised your alkalinity, same way as a calcium reactor does.