Adding substrate to an existing tank

[Bue]

Over the years my subsrate level has gone down about a 1/4 inch across the whole tank (lost to water changes, plant transport etc.).
I bought a bag of flourite about a month or so ago to replace it, but haven't added it to my tank because I haven't decided on the right way to do it. I KNOW I should take the fish out and add it to the tank when most the water is out b/c of all that dust. But it just seems a bit excessive for one little bag across the whole tank.
I was wondering if I could squeeze by with rinsing the substrate then adding it very SLOWLY to the tank. Like putting the substrate in a pitcher and sumberging the pitcher in the tank, then carefully dumping the substrate directly on top of the old substrate.

Comments? Opinions? Warnings?
Thanks

Tank: 40gal breeder
Stock: Bichir, 4 gouramis, 3 yoyo's

 

[djarmstrong]

What i would do is to rinse/ clean the new stuff realy well . Keep the fish water , ect in the tank and use a cup to add the Substrate slowing .

Fill the cup up with the Substrate slowly put it under the water too the bottom and then gentle shake the new Substrate out of the cup .

 

[Natural_Born_Killer]

^ I agree with above.... thats probably what I would do as well.

Only thing is I would try to move some of the sand around once its all in to keep the bacteria at the top - from what I've read here on MFK most of the bacteria thats in the tank is in the sand and decor.

Don't know if the way I'd do it would make any sense.

 

[Bue]

Thanks guys. That's what I was thinking of doing, I just wanted some feedback! I'll go ahead and do it!

Thanks for the mixing tip Natural_born_killer, I will definately try it