[monsterM]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know can I add live aragonite reef sand during or maybe after the tank has cycled? I have a 55 gal FO tank display with some fish and crabs. I have 55 lbs of live aragonite reef sand that only gave me 1-1/2 inches. I wanted about 3 inches of sand in my display, is it two late to add this type of sand? The live aragonite comes w/ millions of bacteria to help the tank. Is it going to mess up my cylcing process if I added it now? I was thinking of adding the sand at the end of the cycle when I plan to do a 50% water change. Can anyone tell me if this is a good idea or not?

Thanks,
Mo

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by monsterM

Hi guys,

I just wanted to know can I add live aragonite reef sand during or maybe after the tank has cycled? I have a 55 gal FO tank display with some fish and crabs. I have 55 lbs of live aragonite reef sand that only gave me 1-1/2 inches. I wanted about 3 inches of sand in my display, is it two late to add this type of sand? The live aragonite comes w/ millions of bacteria to help the tank. Is it going to mess up my cylcing process if I added it now? I was thinking of adding the sand at the end of the cycle when I plan to do a 50% water change. Can anyone tell me if this is a good idea or not?

Thanks,
Mo

You can add this so-called "live" aragonite sand at any time. It will have no noticeable effect one way or the other on your cycle and it will not be "harmed" in any way by the cycle. The only effect it could possibly have would be to slightly speed up the start of the cycle in a completely new tank that is just being started. The "millions of bacteria" that they are talking about would form in a completely dead sand bed within a matter of a few days anyway with or without this packaged product.