re-using sand - your opinions please

ksp75 · 06/01/2006, 01:44 PM

I am transfering my currently set up 20g into a new custom "reef ready" 20g set up I just finished and want to get some input on what to do with the sand. It is a very fine sand about 2" deep and 2 yrs old. Is it safe to move to the new tank or should I scrap it. Another option I am looking at is putting it in the sump in a fuge section which would give a depth of the sand to roughly 5" and then put new sand in the display. I am unsure what to do, please give some input.

Oh yeah, what are your thoughts on sand vs crushed coral. I had crushed coral a couple years back and it seemed to house more life. If I am looking for a strong pod population should I possibly use crushed coral in the fuge or is this a no no.

FlyingFish65 · 06/01/2006, 01:54 PM

As long as the tank holding your current sand is disease free, you should be okay using the old, essentially "live" sand in your new tank. It will speed cycling. Also, IMO, the deeper the sand bed the better. I stay away from crushed coral and use aragonite, the finer grain the better. GL.

ksp75 · 06/01/2006, 02:14 PM

I transfered this same sand last year and had no problems, just read somewhere that moving a DSB is not good and when I previosly transfered it was DSB. Didn't know if I just got lucky. I did however drain the tank about 2/3rds down and stirred the heck out of the sand and then drained the rest of the water. Think I should do it this way again?

CrystalAZ · 06/01/2006, 03:01 PM

I asked one of our ex-experts a while back and he suggested scooping the top 1/2" - 1" of sand off and keeping it and replacing the bottom sand.

Crystal

Tommyc · 06/01/2006, 04:34 PM

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Why? Because I'm in the camp that believes sand beds can "fill up" (detritus, nutrients, etc). I've tried it before...wont do it again. While I can't say with certainty that doing so was the cause of my problems, that's my theory.

I'd follow Crystal's advice and use some of the top layer to seed the new substrate, but that's it.

Tom

Gary Majchrzak · 06/01/2006, 04:40 PM

Sand is cheap. Save some of the old sandbed along with the microfauna it contains and use it to reseed a new sandbed. If reusing an old sandbed, at least seize the opportunity to wash the majority of it before reusing it.
The size of a crushed coral bed favors populations of amphipods.

reefshadow · 06/01/2006, 04:41 PM

I'm with Tommy-

Especially with a 20 gallon. Why risk your livestock for what is essentially only 20 bucks or less worth of sand? (or only about 50 cents worth if you go with something not made for a reef tank)

Good luck!

CB1 · 06/01/2006, 05:11 PM

A 2 inch sand bed is not a DSB. A DSB is 5 or more inche's. If I wanted to reuse a DSB I would rinse all but an inch of it out . It is fine to use the sand. It will only speed up your cycle.

Ursus · 06/01/2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
Sand is cheap. Save some of the old sandbed along with the microfauna it contains and use it to reseed a new sandbed. If reusing an old sandbed, at least seize the opportunity to wash the majority of it before reusing it.
The size of a crushed coral bed favors populations of amphipods.

That may be true, but if you have enough caves and rock, you could also have a massive army of amphipods searching for anything to eat on your oolitic sand bed. Now if I only had a camera good enough to get a picture of my 'stirring' sand at night.

Gary Majchrzak · 06/01/2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ursus
That may be true, but if you have enough caves and rock, you could also have a massive army of amphipods searching for anything to eat on your oolitic sand bed.

No doubt, but if you compare a sandbed composed of sugar sized aragonite with a similarly sized sandbed of CC, the CC bed will harbor more amphipods. Please don't toss rocks into the equation.

davocean · 06/01/2006, 08:18 PM

I thought crushed coral was a no no due to nitrate sink.
Also, if you wash sand, I'd use RO or clean salt water.
Sand can soak up phosphates/nitrates in tap

06/01/2006, 01:44 PM	#1
ksp75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 66	re-using sand - your opinions please I am transfering my currently set up 20g into a new custom "reef ready" 20g set up I just finished and want to get some input on what to do with the sand. It is a very fine sand about 2" deep and 2 yrs old. Is it safe to move to the new tank or should I scrap it. Another option I am looking at is putting it in the sump in a fuge section which would give a depth of the sand to roughly 5" and then put new sand in the display. I am unsure what to do, please give some input. Oh yeah, what are your thoughts on sand vs crushed coral. I had crushed coral a couple years back and it seemed to house more life. If I am looking for a strong pod population should I possibly use crushed coral in the fuge or is this a no no. __________________ "You'll shoot your eye out kid!" Current Tank Info: 20g w/ 20g sump. SunPaq PC's. CSS-65 skimmer. >60lbs live rock. Hammer, shrooms, zoas, leathers, false percs, big harlequin shrimp, peppermint shrimp, and various hermits and snails.

06/01/2006, 01:54 PM	#2
FlyingFish65 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 82	As long as the tank holding your current sand is disease free, you should be okay using the old, essentially "live" sand in your new tank. It will speed cycling. Also, IMO, the deeper the sand bed the better. I stay away from crushed coral and use aragonite, the finer grain the better. GL. __________________ "... no matter where you go, there you are." Current Tank Info: 75 gal reef tank, 20gal sump with refugium, AquaC Remora skimmer, Hamilton 250wattMHx2.

06/01/2006, 02:14 PM	#3
ksp75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 66	I transfered this same sand last year and had no problems, just read somewhere that moving a DSB is not good and when I previosly transfered it was DSB. Didn't know if I just got lucky. I did however drain the tank about 2/3rds down and stirred the heck out of the sand and then drained the rest of the water. Think I should do it this way again? __________________ "You'll shoot your eye out kid!" Current Tank Info: 20g w/ 20g sump. SunPaq PC's. CSS-65 skimmer. >60lbs live rock. Hammer, shrooms, zoas, leathers, false percs, big harlequin shrimp, peppermint shrimp, and various hermits and snails.

06/01/2006, 03:01 PM	#4
CrystalAZ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NW Phoenix, AZ Posts: 4,130	I asked one of our ex-experts a while back and he suggested scooping the top 1/2" - 1" of sand off and keeping it and replacing the bottom sand. Crystal __________________ SAVE THE BRISTLEWORMS! The BPA reminds you that "Bristleworms are our pals." Current Tank Info: Check out my gallery for lots of tank pics

06/01/2006, 04:34 PM	#5
Tommyc Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SE Maryland Posts: 414	Personally, I wouldn't do it. Why? Because I'm in the camp that believes sand beds can "fill up" (detritus, nutrients, etc). I've tried it before...wont do it again. While I can't say with certainty that doing so was the cause of my problems, that's my theory. I'd follow Crystal's advice and use some of the top layer to seed the new substrate, but that's it. Tom __________________ "Only two things will get you into an unrecoverable position faster than a computer - firearms and tequila."

06/01/2006, 04:40 PM	#6
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	Sand is cheap. Save some of the old sandbed along with the microfauna it contains and use it to reseed a new sandbed. If reusing an old sandbed, at least seize the opportunity to wash the majority of it before reusing it. The size of a crushed coral bed favors populations of amphipods. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/01/2006, 04:41 PM	#7
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	I'm with Tommy- Especially with a 20 gallon. Why risk your livestock for what is essentially only 20 bucks or less worth of sand? (or only about 50 cents worth if you go with something not made for a reef tank) Good luck! __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

06/01/2006, 05:11 PM	#8
CB1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wapwallopen, Pa Posts: 253	A 2 inch sand bed is not a DSB. A DSB is 5 or more inche's. If I wanted to reuse a DSB I would rinse all but an inch of it out . It is fine to use the sand. It will only speed up your cycle.

06/01/2006, 08:18 PM	#11
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I thought crushed coral was a no no due to nitrate sink. Also, if you wash sand, I'd use RO or clean salt water. Sand can soak up phosphates/nitrates in tap __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD