Sand Bed Question

[Luke.]

I have live sand that's about a year old , and I'll be moving this weekend.
I bought a 40lb bag of live sand that gave me a good 3" of sand at the bottom , so i bought a 20lb bag of the same stuff as I originally put in there (just half the size) my plan is to vac the sand as best as I can use half of the old sand and use the new 20lb bag ,
now is it bad if I pile the new sand on top of the old ? Will this cause problems down the road ? Or do you have to mix it all up (old and new)

 

[heath]

I have re-used my sand bed, rinse it super well, it might cause a cycle in the tank...just really watch it...

 

[yveterinarian]

When I moved my tank I rinsed the old sand well in fresh saltwater so that I didn't kill off any beneficial bacteria. Then I mixed it with the new sand. Have some Prime or another ammonia neutralizer on hand in case you get a cycle so that your inhabitants aren't adversely affected.

 

[Skim]

Sounds like you're going for DSB. You should not have any problems using old sand, like the others have said just wash/rinse it well. Just a quick note on the DSB you will want 6 or more inches of sand, stay away from that 3" to 4" as like I have heard it said the danger zone, because to deep for shallow bed and not deep enough for DSB, so either go 1'- 2" or 6" + for sand bed.

 

[Luke.]

Sounds like you're going for DSB. You should not have any problems using old sand, like the others have said just wash/rinse it well. Just a quick note on the DSB you will want 6 or more inches of sand, stay away from that 3" to 4" as like I have heard it said the danger zone, because to deep for shallow bed and not deep enough for DSB, so either go 1'- 2" or 6" + for sand bed.

Just wondering why it's a "danger zone"?

 

[nathan]

What's dsb... deep sand bed? Of so what the purpose or benefits?

 

[Skim]

Well I believe it has to do with Anaerobic and Aerobic Bacterial growth and in the 3" to 4" there is some kind of competition going on and you do not get that top zone that is Aerobic and the Bottom being Anaerobic. I had set one of my tanks up with 3 to 4 inch and had problems and then was told about this and add more sand. Took a while but did settle down and things became stable.

 

[Skim]

Well some say DSB are good for nothing some say they would not be without one, some say bare bottom is the way to go and of course there are arguments for all. I myself like the deeper sand beds just to benefit the Worms and Conch's and Cucumbers, Stars, Pistol Shrimp anything that likes to burrow will prefer and DSB. It will also help in Nitrate reduction depending on in you get the right depth and Grain size like the Seaflor Special by CaribSea.