Crushed shell and coral (switching)

wisco-reef · 02/06/2009, 01:33 PM

Right now I have crushed shell and coral bottom but I heard that can be bad for my tank so I want to switch to live sand how can I switch with having to cycle and all that stuff and safely?

Sugar Magnolia · 02/06/2009, 01:39 PM

Your tank's been running for a year now? If so, your best bet is to remove everything (LR/fish/corals etc) to large tubs with heat and circulation and drain the tank so you can get out all the crushed coral. You'll likely have alot of detritus under there, so rinsing the tank would be a good idea. Put in your sand and fresh saltwater (about 1/2 the tank worth) and let it settle overnight. Next day, put everything back in and use some of the water you stored everything in to fill up the rest of the tank. I'm sure others will have other ideas, but if it were me, that's the way I'd do it. Good luck with the change over!

chort55 · 02/06/2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sugar Magnolia
Your tank's been running for a year now? If so, your best bet is to remove everything (LR/fish/corals etc) to large tubs with heat and circulation and drain the tank so you can get out all the crushed coral. You'll likely have alot of detritus under there, so rinsing the tank would be a good idea. Put in your sand and fresh saltwater (about 1/2 the tank worth) and let it settle overnight. Next day, put everything back in and use some of the water you stored everything in to fill up the rest of the tank. I'm sure others will have other ideas, but if it were me, that's the way I'd do it. Good luck with the change over!

I agree thats probably the best choice really. Depending on source of the sand going in you might want to wait a bit longer then a day or two though to put the livestock back in, as you could get a mini cycle.

02/06/2009, 01:33 PM	#1
wisco-reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 117	Crushed shell and coral (switching) Right now I have crushed shell and coral bottom but I heard that can be bad for my tank so I want to switch to live sand how can I switch with having to cycle and all that stuff and safely?

02/06/2009, 01:39 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Your tank's been running for a year now? If so, your best bet is to remove everything (LR/fish/corals etc) to large tubs with heat and circulation and drain the tank so you can get out all the crushed coral. You'll likely have alot of detritus under there, so rinsing the tank would be a good idea. Put in your sand and fresh saltwater (about 1/2 the tank worth) and let it settle overnight. Next day, put everything back in and use some of the water you stored everything in to fill up the rest of the tank. I'm sure others will have other ideas, but if it were me, that's the way I'd do it. Good luck with the change over! __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.