Sand bed setup on existing reef

[tazman]

I am wanting to know how to go about adding the Home depot playsand to my tank. I have a 95 gal reef with about 250# of liverock in it. Not much other than a crab and some snails in it right now. My filtration is a hang on double skimmer(takes wooden air stones, not in use) that has a spong filter and some bio chem stars in it. Other than that it just basically acts like a sump. I have a KNOP venturi skimmer and 3 aquaclear 8?? powerheads for circulation. Have had problems with hair algea, and not had the light on for about 2 years. Not water changes or anything. Just RO top off. Lighting consists of 2 140w VHO's(1 10,000k and a 50/50), and 2 40w actinics. The hair algea has become managable now, and have added the snails to start a cleanup crew. Had water tested, and everything checks out great. 8.2ph, 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates,... Am planning on a major water change over holiday break. I picked up 150# of the sand and was wondering what I should do before adding it. Sorry for the long posts, but want to give all the specs so that you can give the most educated answer possible. Thanks

[reaper_jac]

I did the same thing but with a granite. My sand bed was far too short around a half inch. My tank had been set up for 6 mon or so. I had fish, inverts sponges etc. What I did was take every thing out and put them in large bags. Stered the sand bed just to make shure everything?s gone.
Added the new sand...mixed.... it in, let sand set at the bottom and bam. Tested the water looked good. And did 15% water change for the heck of it.
--With your sand I think I would boil It.--And make shore it's ok.--
I mean just think if someone sat a bag of bug death:evil:or what ever else the store sell?s on it?
Good luck with it.
And how did you resist not putting anything into your tank but snail?s until know?
:evil:

[tazman]

Actually, I had a 55 that was doing great, and a friend wanted to downsize, and I ended up with the 95. I also in the trade inherited his hair algea problem, and the only way that I was able to get it to slow down was to turn out the lights for a week at a time, and when I would do this my fish would die. After the last fish died, I just got frustrated, and did not turn the lights on for the last 2 years. Also had our first child, and did not have much time for it anyway. Now I am getting motivated, and have been searching the web, and am learning about the new ways to keep a reef.
Do you realy think that I will need to boil the water. I have an empty 58 that I was thinking about setting up to get the sand basically filtered out with. Set up with fresh water and run a filter to clean out any dust and other particles. What do you think?

[Tranceworx]

set up the 58 but use saltwater sw is a natural cleaner
with the filter running then transfer it to the other tank
salt in general is cheap!