Moving Sand To Another Tank

flinka · 07/19/2007, 07:10 AM

I am starting a 75G reef tank. For my sandbed, I will be using 60lbs of new sand and want to use an additional 20lbs of sand I already have in a healthy 10G nano-tank (about 1 year old) I will be breaking down. And I have a QT tank the fish in the 10G can live in until the 75G is ready so I have all the time I need to wait, if necessary. I am not in a rush to get this done.

My question is, given my situation, can I mix the 20lbs from the nano-tank in with the new sand and let the cycle take its course for whatever length of time it takes, or even in this scenario, is it still unwise to reuse the sand from the exiting tank?

Thanks!

Brisc0 · 07/19/2007, 07:57 AM

IMO reusing sand is a bad idea. About 8 months ago I finally got to build the custom reef I have been dreaming of for years which included an upgrade from a 20g fuge to a 75g fuge. During this process I figured I could "Quick seed" the new fuge with all the sand from the old. Well, it took about 8 months to completely backfire on me but three weeks ago I tore out the 75 because the sandbed had become a septic tank.

Basically all the organic material in the old sand once mixed up with the new sand created a ton of sulfur pockets and my water quality began going south faster and faster.

I am not saying its a 100% no no, some may have input to the contrary, but the above is what happened to me when I mixed established sand with new stuff. You could however just use a portion of it like a couple of cups/lbs instead of the entire 20lbs. This would seed the new sand with beneficial bacteria and micro fauna without creating any anaerobic pockets from mixing the whole shebang.

csb · 07/19/2007, 08:26 AM

Agreed... You'd be better using new sand and a cup of the old sand to help "seed" the new stuff.

drummereef · 07/19/2007, 10:25 AM

Agree. Get new dry sand and seed it with your other tank's sand. You'll be adding a bunch of excess nutrient by moving it over.

07/19/2007, 07:10 AM	#1
flinka Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 149	Moving Sand To Another Tank I am starting a 75G reef tank. For my sandbed, I will be using 60lbs of new sand and want to use an additional 20lbs of sand I already have in a healthy 10G nano-tank (about 1 year old) I will be breaking down. And I have a QT tank the fish in the 10G can live in until the 75G is ready so I have all the time I need to wait, if necessary. I am not in a rush to get this done. My question is, given my situation, can I mix the 20lbs from the nano-tank in with the new sand and let the cycle take its course for whatever length of time it takes, or even in this scenario, is it still unwise to reuse the sand from the exiting tank? Thanks!

07/19/2007, 07:57 AM	#2
Brisc0 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 279	IMO reusing sand is a bad idea. About 8 months ago I finally got to build the custom reef I have been dreaming of for years which included an upgrade from a 20g fuge to a 75g fuge. During this process I figured I could "Quick seed" the new fuge with all the sand from the old. Well, it took about 8 months to completely backfire on me but three weeks ago I tore out the 75 because the sandbed had become a septic tank. Basically all the organic material in the old sand once mixed up with the new sand created a ton of sulfur pockets and my water quality began going south faster and faster. I am not saying its a 100% no no, some may have input to the contrary, but the above is what happened to me when I mixed established sand with new stuff. You could however just use a portion of it like a couple of cups/lbs instead of the entire 20lbs. This would seed the new sand with beneficial bacteria and micro fauna without creating any anaerobic pockets from mixing the whole shebang. __________________ I'll drink to your leg... @bushwilliams on Twitter My Full Reef Aquaria Blog @ http://reef.bushwilliams.com Current Tank Info: 40G Nuvo Fusion Started 8/2014

07/19/2007, 08:26 AM	#3
csb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 541	Agreed... You'd be better using new sand and a cup of the old sand to help "seed" the new stuff. __________________ Winter ski bum, summer reef bum. Tank pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/snojrnl Current Tank Info: 30g mixed reef

07/19/2007, 10:25 AM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Agree. Get new dry sand and seed it with your other tank's sand. You'll be adding a bunch of excess nutrient by moving it over. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system