Switching form CC to LS. Help please.

slapshot16 · 06/27/2006, 02:28 PM

I have a 55 gallon with 40#s of crushed coral and 60 pounds of live rock. 4 green chromis, fire fish, 2 clowns, big hermit, assorted snails and small hermits. 2 small zoa frags. I want to switch from crushed coral to live sand. Here is my plan:

1. Place live rock in two or three 5 gallon buckets and drain tank water into the buckets.

2. Place fish in one of the 5 gallon containers with a power head and a heater. Place inverts in another bucket.

3. Drain remaining water into a 34 gallon trash can. Scoop out crushed coral.

4. Add live sand; add water from the trash can; add live rocks;

5. Add remaing water to the tank, transfer fish and inverts.

Some concerns: Will I get a cycle? Is the sand storm OK for the fish and inverts? How much sand do I add? Is this too stressful for the fish?

Added bonus: I get to drop a sump into the stand without removing the center brace.

Please comment.

tkeracer619 · 06/27/2006, 02:34 PM

sounds to me like you got it figured out. You might have a small cycle. Just do some water changes.

fsa · 06/27/2006, 04:51 PM

Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Only thing is, I don't see any need to separate the fish/rock, etc. Instead of using 5 gallon buckets, I would use 3 or 4 15 to 20 gallon rubbermade containers and put fish/rock into them. It gives the fish a place to hide while you are doing the change over. As quick as the change over is going to be, probably only an hour or so, I would not really worry about having a powerhead and heater, although it couldn't hurt.

But, your plan sounds really good. I, too, would not worry about the cycling doing too much. A small one, if any.

Frank

slapshot16 · 06/28/2006, 05:47 AM

Thanks for the comments. I bet I only have 40 or 45 gallons total. I will get a 2nd container.

06/27/2006, 02:28 PM	#1
slapshot16 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 341	Switching form CC to LS. Help please. I have a 55 gallon with 40#s of crushed coral and 60 pounds of live rock. 4 green chromis, fire fish, 2 clowns, big hermit, assorted snails and small hermits. 2 small zoa frags. I want to switch from crushed coral to live sand. Here is my plan: 1. Place live rock in two or three 5 gallon buckets and drain tank water into the buckets. 2. Place fish in one of the 5 gallon containers with a power head and a heater. Place inverts in another bucket. 3. Drain remaining water into a 34 gallon trash can. Scoop out crushed coral. 4. Add live sand; add water from the trash can; add live rocks; 5. Add remaing water to the tank, transfer fish and inverts. Some concerns: Will I get a cycle? Is the sand storm OK for the fish and inverts? How much sand do I add? Is this too stressful for the fish? Added bonus: I get to drop a sump into the stand without removing the center brace. Please comment.

06/27/2006, 02:34 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	sounds to me like you got it figured out. You might have a small cycle. Just do some water changes. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

06/27/2006, 04:51 PM	#3
fsa Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 412	Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. Only thing is, I don't see any need to separate the fish/rock, etc. Instead of using 5 gallon buckets, I would use 3 or 4 15 to 20 gallon rubbermade containers and put fish/rock into them. It gives the fish a place to hide while you are doing the change over. As quick as the change over is going to be, probably only an hour or so, I would not really worry about having a powerhead and heater, although it couldn't hurt. But, your plan sounds really good. I, too, would not worry about the cycling doing too much. A small one, if any. Frank

06/28/2006, 05:47 AM	#4
slapshot16 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 341	Thanks for the comments. I bet I only have 40 or 45 gallons total. I will get a 2nd container.