To reuse sand or Not to reuse

mitsurs01 · 12/23/2009, 08:17 AM

I have an established 75 gal with a 3 to 4 in sand bed. I am going to be upgrading VERY soon to a 125 gal. Would it be ok to use the old sand or should I not take the chance and just go with all new sand? i will be transfering several fish and coral to this new tank, but using most of the old water and all the old live rock.

pmcadams · 12/23/2009, 08:21 AM

As long as the 75 is healthy, I'd reuse it.

epstein · 12/23/2009, 08:23 AM

Re use and rinse?......or re use and place live stock right in?

armani4o3 · 12/23/2009, 08:25 AM

id rinse half and put the the unrinsed half on top

benzrider85 · 12/23/2009, 08:25 AM

excuse my ignorance, but won't putting it in the new tank stir up all the nitrates and cause a disaster?

mitsurs01 · 12/23/2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epstein

Re use and rinse?......or re use and place live stock right in?

it will have to be place livestock right in. I unfortunately don't have the space to keep the 75 up so it will be a quick tear down and set up in a day.

pmcadams · 12/23/2009, 08:54 AM

If you are doing this in one day, with a DSB, whether its new or used sand, I'd rinse it thoroughly. You are going to need the sand as clean as possible plus lay a plastic liner over the sand when you slowly add the water from the 75, plus the new water. Otherwise you are going to have to wait for the water column to settle before your livestock should be transferred. 'Quick' is tricky business.

NCNBilly · 12/23/2009, 08:58 AM

If you don't have time to wait out a probable nitrate spike, I'd ditch it and keep a few cups to reseed some new sand.

mitsurs01 · 12/23/2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCNBilly

If you don't have time to wait out a probable nitrate spike, I'd ditch it and keep a few cups to reseed some new sand.

the spike is not a huge concern as the corals will be in a holding tank, so just the fish will be moved for a week or so.

johnc43113 · 12/23/2009, 10:21 AM

I started my current tank with new live sand. I let it all settle then started (slowly) to add my livestock...over 3-4 days time. Once it was all out I added my old sand on top of the new sand. Worked well for me. No issues.

blueridge · 12/23/2009, 02:11 PM

Totally rinse the sand if you are going to re-use it. Likely will still have a nitrate spike.

12/23/2009, 08:17 AM	#1
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	To reuse sand or Not to reuse I have an established 75 gal with a 3 to 4 in sand bed. I am going to be upgrading VERY soon to a 125 gal. Would it be ok to use the old sand or should I not take the chance and just go with all new sand? i will be transfering several fish and coral to this new tank, but using most of the old water and all the old live rock.

12/23/2009, 08:21 AM	#2
pmcadams Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 126	As long as the 75 is healthy, I'd reuse it. __________________ Paul

12/23/2009, 08:23 AM	#3
epstein Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC transplant now in CT Posts: 1,501	Re use and rinse?......or re use and place live stock right in? __________________ I'd Rather be a failure at something I love , Than a sucess at something I hate . George Burns Current Tank Info: 150 DD Cube / 100 Gal Sump(basement) 30gal cube frag tank plumb Panworld 250ps return/ Reef Octopus SRO3000 Skimmer/ Bubble Magus Doser/Lumenmax reflector with 400 watt Radium bulb Ice Cap Ballast Apex Controller 2 MP40wes 2 gyre 150

12/23/2009, 08:25 AM	#5
benzrider85 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 98	excuse my ignorance, but won't putting it in the new tank stir up all the nitrates and cause a disaster? __________________ -Mike

12/23/2009, 08:54 AM	#7
pmcadams Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 126	If you are doing this in one day, with a DSB, whether its new or used sand, I'd rinse it thoroughly. You are going to need the sand as clean as possible plus lay a plastic liner over the sand when you slowly add the water from the 75, plus the new water. Otherwise you are going to have to wait for the water column to settle before your livestock should be transferred. 'Quick' is tricky business. __________________ Paul

12/23/2009, 08:25 AM	#4
armani4o3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: reading pa Posts: 222	id rinse half and put the the unrinsed half on top

12/23/2009, 08:58 AM	#8
NCNBilly Black thumb reefer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 1,043	If you don't have time to wait out a probable nitrate spike, I'd ditch it and keep a few cups to reseed some new sand.

12/23/2009, 10:21 AM	#10
johnc43113 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Circleville, OH Posts: 109	I started my current tank with new live sand. I let it all settle then started (slowly) to add my livestock...over 3-4 days time. Once it was all out I added my old sand on top of the new sand. Worked well for me. No issues.

12/23/2009, 02:11 PM	#11
blueridge Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 63	Totally rinse the sand if you are going to re-use it. Likely will still have a nitrate spike.