Question: How to add more substrate to an established tank

[MearWolf]

Hi. My 2ft tank has quite fine black sand substrate.
I'd like it to be a bit deeper for my plants to root better so I was thinking about adding some more.

I'm wondering if and how to add more substrate to an active, established tank?

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[tigmades]

I recently added pool filter sand to a bare bottom tank by unplugging the filter and just pouring it in. However, you said your black sand is fine, so instead I would suggest the following:

Take a container full, lower it slowly to the bottom and then "pour" it out. I would slowly mix the sand afterwards seeing as you'll be burying the beneficial bacteria that grew on the top of you sand... that way hopefully at least some of the beneficial bacteria will still stay on the surface

 

[MearWolf]

Ahh so what do you reckon if I fill a container with water. Hydrate the substrate in that. Then I can lower it in?

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[tigmades]

Ahh so what do you reckon if I fill a container with water. Hydrate the substrate in that. Then I can lower it in?

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You don't need to pour water into the container first, just put your substrate in a container and slowly lower the container upright into the tank, and it'll fill up on it's own. Continue lowering going slowly and still upright until you're near the bottom, and then gently turn on side and "pour"!

 

[Kaysie]

The bowl full of substrate method is fine as long as you're using pre-rinsed substrate. Rinse rinse rinse, then put it in the tank.