Removing a deep sand bed

manchester · 07/23/2006, 04:59 PM

Does anyone have any experience removing a deep sand bed? I want to go to a bare-bottom and need to get rid of 4" of live sand in my 55 gal. tank. Should I remove it a bit at a time, or all at once, or something in between? My concern is hydrogen sulfide, etc., that may exist deep in the bed. I have about 50 lbs of live rock and an efficient Aqua C Remora skimmer. No other filtration.

Any ideas on the best way to go?

Thanks.

Bob

"Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen." ~Steven Wright

xtrstangx · 07/23/2006, 06:10 PM

Your best bet would be to remove all livestock and rock and put them into a bucket with a heater and a few powerheads. Pull out most of your water with it too (40-50g if you can)

Then use a dustpan to pull the sand out and throw it into buckets. This will take a while. If you can remove the tank and hose it out to get ALL of the sand when you are done.

Cooking your rocks will make your BB tank easier to maintain, but it will take some time.

manchester · 07/23/2006, 07:25 PM

Thanks, xtrstangx!

What do you mean by 'cooking your rock'?

Bob

Ehgemus · 07/23/2006, 07:55 PM

I would think you could siphon the sand out with a hose, like a 3/4" to 1" dia hose It would take the sand and all the bad stuff with it. you might have to do it 1/4 of the tank at a time. but it beats taking the hole tank apart.

xtrstangx · 07/23/2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by manchester
Thanks, xtrstangx!

What do you mean by 'cooking your rock'?

Bob

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=650985

You have a few hours of reading ahead of you.

Quote:

Originally posted by Harold Edwards
I would think you could siphon the sand out with a hose, like a 3/4" to 1" dia hose It would take the sand and all the bad stuff with it. you might have to do it 1/4 of the tank at a time. but it beats taking the hole tank apart.

JMO, but I wouldn't under any circumstance stir up a DSB with livestock in the tank. Unless the sand is really new, chances are it is going to be very very nasty.

reefnewbie54321 · 07/23/2006, 09:36 PM

shop vac ... I thought thats what bomber used to remove his

07/23/2006, 04:59 PM	#1
manchester Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 11	Removing a deep sand bed Does anyone have any experience removing a deep sand bed? I want to go to a bare-bottom and need to get rid of 4" of live sand in my 55 gal. tank. Should I remove it a bit at a time, or all at once, or something in between? My concern is hydrogen sulfide, etc., that may exist deep in the bed. I have about 50 lbs of live rock and an efficient Aqua C Remora skimmer. No other filtration. Any ideas on the best way to go? Thanks. Bob "Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen." ~Steven Wright

07/23/2006, 06:10 PM	#2
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	Your best bet would be to remove all livestock and rock and put them into a bucket with a heater and a few powerheads. Pull out most of your water with it too (40-50g if you can) Then use a dustpan to pull the sand out and throw it into buckets. This will take a while. If you can remove the tank and hose it out to get ALL of the sand when you are done. Cooking your rocks will make your BB tank easier to maintain, but it will take some time.

07/23/2006, 07:25 PM	#3
manchester Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 11	Thanks, xtrstangx! What do you mean by 'cooking your rock'? Bob

07/23/2006, 07:55 PM	#4
Ehgemus Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central City Ky Posts: 1,585	I would think you could siphon the sand out with a hose, like a 3/4" to 1" dia hose It would take the sand and all the bad stuff with it. you might have to do it 1/4 of the tank at a time. but it beats taking the hole tank apart.

07/23/2006, 09:36 PM	#6
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	shop vac ... I thought thats what bomber used to remove his