changing sand

trd47 · 08/23/2008, 01:04 PM

I've got a 40 breeder with a 20 gallon sump and it's been up for almost a year now. The tank is sps dominated with a few fishes around 5 (nemos, pygmy angels). The substrate I'm using currently is real fine, if I were to turn up the flow the sand bed gets disturbed and now all four corners on the bottom of the tank are exposed. The sand that was covering it has been pushed in the center of the tank and now I have a sand mound and it's covering majority of my rocks. All parameters are zero. It started off as a 1.5" sand bed all around but like I mentioned there's no sand at all 4 corners and about a 4 inch sand mound that is covering some live rock.

Now for my questions...

1. Is it possible to change the substrate into something much coarse or am I stuck with it?
2. If it is possible do I need to be careful on how I vacuum? Should I be worried about starting another cycle?
3. Do I need to transfer inhabitants into a qt?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

crvz · 08/23/2008, 01:14 PM

You can change it, you just have to be careful about it. One idea is to siphon out the sand a little at a time, say over a month or so, then put new stuff in when it's all out (so you'll be barebottom right before you put the new sand in). If it's a good dry sand that you'll be adding, I wouldnt worry about a cycle, but I would rinse it out real well (I usually just use tap to rinse it).

You could just do it all at once if you wanted, though. I doubt your sand bed is loaded with too much stuff.

trd47 · 08/23/2008, 01:50 PM

crvz, thank you for your resposne but what do you mean by "if it's a good dry sand"? Are other brands better than others?

crvz · 08/23/2008, 10:29 PM

no, just saying not something from the back yard.

just a quality sand, whether you think that's something silica based from the hardware store (which I would not use), or bagged stuff for the hobby. what are you planning on using?

1fishkeeper · 08/24/2008, 11:48 AM

Just like crvz said you can take a little out for a month or so. That is how I done mine when I changed it over once before. Just use your siphon hose to suck up alittle at a time when you do your water changes. Then when its gone use a good sand that is low in silica so you dont get a massive dantom outbreak in your tank. For putting sand back in I have found that if you use a funnel with some pipe on it that works great. Best of luck with it.

trd47 · 08/24/2008, 08:52 PM

I plan on using these, Tropic Eden miniflakes. Here's a link

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=Substrates

08/23/2008, 01:04 PM	#1
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	changing sand I've got a 40 breeder with a 20 gallon sump and it's been up for almost a year now. The tank is sps dominated with a few fishes around 5 (nemos, pygmy angels). The substrate I'm using currently is real fine, if I were to turn up the flow the sand bed gets disturbed and now all four corners on the bottom of the tank are exposed. The sand that was covering it has been pushed in the center of the tank and now I have a sand mound and it's covering majority of my rocks. All parameters are zero. It started off as a 1.5" sand bed all around but like I mentioned there's no sand at all 4 corners and about a 4 inch sand mound that is covering some live rock. Now for my questions... 1. Is it possible to change the substrate into something much coarse or am I stuck with it? 2. If it is possible do I need to be careful on how I vacuum? Should I be worried about starting another cycle? 3. Do I need to transfer inhabitants into a qt? Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

08/23/2008, 01:14 PM	#2
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	You can change it, you just have to be careful about it. One idea is to siphon out the sand a little at a time, say over a month or so, then put new stuff in when it's all out (so you'll be barebottom right before you put the new sand in). If it's a good dry sand that you'll be adding, I wouldnt worry about a cycle, but I would rinse it out real well (I usually just use tap to rinse it). You could just do it all at once if you wanted, though. I doubt your sand bed is loaded with too much stuff. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/23/2008, 10:29 PM	#4
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	no, just saying not something from the back yard. just a quality sand, whether you think that's something silica based from the hardware store (which I would not use), or bagged stuff for the hobby. what are you planning on using? __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/24/2008, 11:48 AM	#5
1fishkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Spanaway, WA Posts: 1,101	Just like crvz said you can take a little out for a month or so. That is how I done mine when I changed it over once before. Just use your siphon hose to suck up alittle at a time when you do your water changes. Then when its gone use a good sand that is low in silica so you dont get a massive dantom outbreak in your tank. For putting sand back in I have found that if you use a funnel with some pipe on it that works great. Best of luck with it. __________________ "You can run but you will only die tired" U.S. Army Snipers

08/23/2008, 01:50 PM	#3
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	crvz, thank you for your resposne but what do you mean by "if it's a good dry sand"? Are other brands better than others?

08/24/2008, 08:52 PM	#6
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	I plan on using these, Tropic Eden miniflakes. Here's a link http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=Substrates