Changing out sand

Eric Williams · 02/20/2010, 10:14 AM

I want to change out all of my sand in a 210. What is the best way of doing this so I do not loose all the good stuff growing in the sand. By changing out the sand will it cause any type of a cycle?

Thanks for the advice

VacavilleFC3S · 02/20/2010, 10:18 AM

how deep is your current sand bed???? if theres any parts of it that haven't been disturbed in a long time theres a good chance your going to have some probelms.

dwd5813 · 02/20/2010, 10:19 AM

why do you want to change out the sand?

Eric Williams · 02/20/2010, 10:30 AM

The reason I want to change it out is that I am having a fit with diatoms and red slime, but only on the sand. The bed is only a couple of inches deep. I know that red slime is caused by high nutrient levels but everything checks out okay.
Phosphate is zero, silicate is zero nitrate is between .05 and 1 and I have a ton of currnet from mp40s but I still continue to get the diatoms and red slime. I just thought that it may be a case of the sand bed dying off. The sand that is currently in the 210 came from my old 120 and a 80 gal tanks and is propably 5 to 6 years old. I try and keep it stirred up, not sure if that is good or bad. I am also considering just going bare bottom but I really like the natural look of the sand but I am getting really tired of fighting this issue.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

AS · 02/20/2010, 12:52 PM

I have done this multiple times in the past with no long term effects. My tanks typically have 2lbs of live rock per gallon:

What I did:
- Remove 1/2 -2/3rds of water without disturbing the bottom to clean tank or brute can
- Revove the corals as you go
- Remove the rock carefully and rinse in a bucket of tank water and place into the brute cans with saved water.
- Remove the rest of water except for last 2"'s above sand.
- Put this water into ints own brute or tank with no animals - it is probably dirty. I usually filter this water with a Vortex Diatom filter (with earth & carbon powder) and reuse
- Look for hermits, snails, etc
- Stir the bottom slightly - let settle and search for other creatures.
- Scoop out sand and have sons carry outside.
- Bring garden hose through window and clean tank well and drain - repeat
back out through garden hose.
- If added new sand or crush coral - cleand and put in tank fill it back up 1/2 way with saved water.
- Diatom the filter the tank (earth and Carbon powder)
- Add live rock & corals - fill up tank
- Top off with pre-preparred salt water
- Corals will show sign of stress for a while
- They will bounce back in the nutrient free world

Probably sounds complex, I worked in a retail aquarium when I was young that specialized in Marine fish. I did this type of tank clean almost every day and can get in done on a 125 Gal in about 4 hours with a kid or 2 assisting.

Works for me..........cant say it will work for you

bhammer · 02/20/2010, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawk317

lookin good. keep up the good work.

Who the H E double hockey stick is this guy? I see his identical posts on other threads saying the same thing. Just looked up his history and looks like he is post padding.

lordofthereef · 02/21/2010, 12:30 AM

By "good stuff" I assume you means the critters that live in your sand and not the bacteria. I would just siphon the sand out with a hose and manually grab out the sifters in it. What is it you have in the sand?

02/20/2010, 10:14 AM	#1
Eric Williams Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 46	Changing out sand I want to change out all of my sand in a 210. What is the best way of doing this so I do not loose all the good stuff growing in the sand. By changing out the sand will it cause any type of a cycle? Thanks for the advice __________________ Sign Guy Current Tank Info: 210 Gal DT, 65 gal acrylic sump outer orbit hood with 3 150 14K MH, 8 96W Dual Actinic 8 moon lights Reeflow 3600 GPH return pump 2 Vortech MP40 Reef Octopus 150 protein skimmer

02/20/2010, 10:19 AM	#3
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	why do you want to change out the sand? __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

02/20/2010, 10:30 AM	#4
Eric Williams Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 46	The reason I want to change it out is that I am having a fit with diatoms and red slime, but only on the sand. The bed is only a couple of inches deep. I know that red slime is caused by high nutrient levels but everything checks out okay. Phosphate is zero, silicate is zero nitrate is between .05 and 1 and I have a ton of currnet from mp40s but I still continue to get the diatoms and red slime. I just thought that it may be a case of the sand bed dying off. The sand that is currently in the 210 came from my old 120 and a 80 gal tanks and is propably 5 to 6 years old. I try and keep it stirred up, not sure if that is good or bad. I am also considering just going bare bottom but I really like the natural look of the sand but I am getting really tired of fighting this issue. Any suggestions would be appreciated. __________________ Sign Guy Current Tank Info: 210 Gal DT, 65 gal acrylic sump outer orbit hood with 3 150 14K MH, 8 96W Dual Actinic 8 moon lights Reeflow 3600 GPH return pump 2 Vortech MP40 Reef Octopus 150 protein skimmer

02/21/2010, 12:30 AM	#7
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	By "good stuff" I assume you means the critters that live in your sand and not the bacteria. I would just siphon the sand out with a hose and manually grab out the sifters in it. What is it you have in the sand? __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

02/20/2010, 10:18 AM	#2
VacavilleFC3S Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vacaville California Posts: 2,613	how deep is your current sand bed???? if theres any parts of it that haven't been disturbed in a long time theres a good chance your going to have some probelms.

02/20/2010, 12:52 PM	#5
AS Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 82	I have done this multiple times in the past with no long term effects. My tanks typically have 2lbs of live rock per gallon: What I did: - Remove 1/2 -2/3rds of water without disturbing the bottom to clean tank or brute can - Revove the corals as you go - Remove the rock carefully and rinse in a bucket of tank water and place into the brute cans with saved water. - Remove the rest of water except for last 2"'s above sand. - Put this water into ints own brute or tank with no animals - it is probably dirty. I usually filter this water with a Vortex Diatom filter (with earth & carbon powder) and reuse - Look for hermits, snails, etc - Stir the bottom slightly - let settle and search for other creatures. - Scoop out sand and have sons carry outside. - Bring garden hose through window and clean tank well and drain - repeat back out through garden hose. - If added new sand or crush coral - cleand and put in tank fill it back up 1/2 way with saved water. - Diatom the filter the tank (earth and Carbon powder) - Add live rock & corals - fill up tank - Top off with pre-preparred salt water - Corals will show sign of stress for a while - They will bounce back in the nutrient free world Probably sounds complex, I worked in a retail aquarium when I was young that specialized in Marine fish. I did this type of tank clean almost every day and can get in done on a 125 Gal in about 4 hours with a kid or 2 assisting. Works for me..........cant say it will work for you