Adding sand to an established tank

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I never got the chance to remove the sand that came with my free 110 liter, which allowed me to observe how just about all food/dirt stays on top without getting buried and becoming like a needle in a haystack to vacuum out.
This lead me to opt for some sand in my pair of 473 liter tanks (and I'm sure this will make those of you who did not like my keeping of kuhli loaches, weather loaches, and similar in bare bottom tanks rejoice), because my concern about that substrate trapping too much dirt and food to be worth the appearance is averted .

But, I'm unsure how to go about adding it evenly to the bottom without it getting scattered in the water, clogging up the filters, and taking forever to settle down. What are some tried and true techniquies for adding sand to an existing tank that get the job done without the above?
Thanks!

 

[Rocksor]

Put dry sand in a water bottle (use a funnel), fill with old tank water, cap it, shake it (to sink the sand granules), and then submerge it just about an inch above the area, open the cap and let it out of the bottle. I didn't use play sand. I used #20 mesh size silica sand (pool filter sand).

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

That sounds pretty useful. I was also planning on pool filter sand, so it should work for me too.

 

[jjohnwm]

I've experimented with play sand in the past, and all the horror stories you read about sand damaging impellers, clouding water and all the rest...are true! It's incredibly dirty stuff, which seems to take forever to settle and can be sucked up by filters. It packs tightly on the bottom, making it difficult for burrowing fish to ply their trade, and in one instance it had a significant amount of salt in it, giving me a surprise brackish tank.

However, pool filter sand or silica sand is a whole different story. It seems to be much denser than play sand and so it settles very quickly, and I've never had any of it get into a filter. Right out of the bag it is already much cleaner than play sand is even after repeated rinsings. And it never packs, so that light fluffy layer of sand you lay down will stay that way; easily accessed and utilized by burrowing fish and inverts. It's still plenty fine, so waste matter or excess food sits on top waiting to be vacuumed rather than penetrating into the substrate and rotting. And it never damages delicate structures like Corydoras barbels or Geophagus gill rakers, which some types of sharp-edged sand can do.

I'll be honest, when I use it nowadays it's a matter of cut the bag open and then just dump it or scoop it into the tank. Minimal clouding, relatively speaking, and what there is quickly settles/filters out. I'd probably switch off the filter during the actual process of adding it, but you can switch it right back on immediately afterwards without concern.

If I could only find it in more natural colours rather than just off-white, it would be perfect.

 

[Jexnell]

When I changed from gravel to sand I just took the water level down low, about six inches in a 125gal tank. Took out the gravel and dropped in the sand after a thorough rinse and soak in declorinated water (did this prior to any work on the tank). Refilled the tank like a normal waterchange. Left the fish in tank during the whole process with no issues.

 

[cvar]

I used pool filter sand too. Sinks very quickly, never clouds water. Easy to clean its surface. I left all the fish inside my 125g planted tank, but reduced water level to just a few inches. A dustpan was used to pick up old gravel. I rinsed and rinsed the new pool filter sand MANY times (with garden hose in a 5 gallon pail) to eliminate so much silt, so dumping clean pool filter sand into the tank was uneventful and the water stayed clear. Refilled with no problems w/ fish or plants.

 

[fishguy1978]

I typically remove the fish to a tote. Drain the tank and use a dust pan to scoop out the old substrate. Add the new and place a bucket lid in the tank to disperse the water during fill. I do try to rinse new substrate prior to adding to the tank. Usually just dump it in a bucket and keep the bucket slightly tipped and stick a garden hose down in with just enough flow to make the sand churn.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

The sand has now been added, and although the black kuhli loaches are staying on top of it (as predicted in the thread I made about that), I have to say I'm shocked at how much the clown loaches love it.
They didn't appear wanting for substrate when there was none, but now they rest on top of it compared to resting on top of the decor when the tank was bare bottom, and sometimes dig in it with their snouts.

As for the other tank, I can't wait to see the weather loaches in my 2nd 473 liter play in the sand when I get them. Who knew sand in a tank could be so much fun?