Going Bare Bottom without DECIMATING livestock?

Stlouphil · 07/14/2014, 01:17 PM

Really increased my tank flow and the little particles of sand are driving me insane as well as irritating the corals. Anyone have a practical way or removing 2" of sand and crushed coral with out stressing fish and coral too much? How to you save your cleanup crew from the transition? Do you basically just have to break the tank down? Then fill it back up?

Help me through what seems like an EXTREMELY painful process!

whosurcaddie · 07/14/2014, 01:41 PM

You don't have to break the tank down. Have you tried aiming your powerheads up more and moving them closer to the surface?

If you have already made up your mind on going BB just make it a gradual process take out say 25% of the sand at each water change. Basically just siphon the sand out in sections. I went bare bottom a while back because of this. I didn't like it and switch back but with a courser sand.

I'll tell you when I did it that it took forever to get the last little bit of sand out it kept showing up in one corner I would siphon it out and more would be there the next day this went on for a couple weeks.

Also Going BB you will need to increase the flow at the bottom of the tank to keep the detritus from settling you will find that it likes to collect in certain spots. You will want to increase your flow if your getting big piles of it.

thegrun · 07/14/2014, 01:49 PM

+1, a 1/2" hose with a siphon will remove your sand without a problem. as posted above i would only remove 1/4 of the tanks sand at a time waiting a week between removals.

CleverD · 07/14/2014, 02:45 PM

As stated above by everyone , and from personal experience remove the sand bits at a time.

Have the flow in the tank stopped so you do not have any free floating partials land on your corals that are being stirred up from the syphon. Take out small sections one bit at a time. Once done let your sand settle for a couple of minutes. That will make sure nothing will blow around still suspended in the water.

Good luck

GroktheCube · 07/14/2014, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

+1, a 1/2" hose with a siphon will remove your sand without a problem. as posted above i would only remove 1/4 of the tanks sand at a time waiting a week between removals.

This is what I did, worked perfectly.

Stlouphil · 07/14/2014, 07:43 PM

Thanks. I debated going BB when I started the tank. Someday I will actually listen to my instincts. Arrrgghh. Looks like I have a PIA for about a month.

CleverD · 07/14/2014, 08:09 PM

It's ok but the flow is the most important in the tank

07/14/2014, 01:17 PM	#1
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	Going Bare Bottom without DECIMATING livestock? Really increased my tank flow and the little particles of sand are driving me insane as well as irritating the corals. Anyone have a practical way or removing 2" of sand and crushed coral with out stressing fish and coral too much? How to you save your cleanup crew from the transition? Do you basically just have to break the tank down? Then fill it back up? Help me through what seems like an EXTREMELY painful process! __________________ Current Tank: 90RR mixed reef, 150gal additional volume, 40gal sump, algae reactor, ASM G-3 skimmer, 3 - modified Marsaqua Led Units 2- 165w 1- 300w, Kalwasser reactor ATO, Auto Dosing 3 part plus tra

07/14/2014, 07:43 PM	#6
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	Thanks. I debated going BB when I started the tank. Someday I will actually listen to my instincts. Arrrgghh. Looks like I have a PIA for about a month. __________________ Current Tank: 90RR mixed reef, 150gal additional volume, 40gal sump, algae reactor, ASM G-3 skimmer, 3 - modified Marsaqua Led Units 2- 165w 1- 300w, Kalwasser reactor ATO, Auto Dosing 3 part plus tra

07/14/2014, 01:41 PM	#2
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	You don't have to break the tank down. Have you tried aiming your powerheads up more and moving them closer to the surface? If you have already made up your mind on going BB just make it a gradual process take out say 25% of the sand at each water change. Basically just siphon the sand out in sections. I went bare bottom a while back because of this. I didn't like it and switch back but with a courser sand. I'll tell you when I did it that it took forever to get the last little bit of sand out it kept showing up in one corner I would siphon it out and more would be there the next day this went on for a couple weeks. Also Going BB you will need to increase the flow at the bottom of the tank to keep the detritus from settling you will find that it likes to collect in certain spots. You will want to increase your flow if your getting big piles of it.

07/14/2014, 01:49 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, a 1/2" hose with a siphon will remove your sand without a problem. as posted above i would only remove 1/4 of the tanks sand at a time waiting a week between removals.

07/14/2014, 02:45 PM	#4
CleverD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 70	As stated above by everyone , and from personal experience remove the sand bits at a time. Have the flow in the tank stopped so you do not have any free floating partials land on your corals that are being stirred up from the syphon. Take out small sections one bit at a time. Once done let your sand settle for a couple of minutes. That will make sure nothing will blow around still suspended in the water. Good luck

07/14/2014, 08:09 PM	#7
CleverD Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 70	It's ok but the flow is the most important in the tank