How can I remove sand without tearing apart my reef? Wanna go BB!

OCDP · 10/23/2006, 02:54 PM

Hmm, is there any way to safely, and effectively remove the sand from my reef (as much as I can) without taking apart the entire tank?? The sand has gotta go!!!! It's evil I tell you.. pure evil.

Travis L. Stevens · 10/23/2006, 02:57 PM

It'll take time and effort, but just syphon it out. Of course, you'll probably have to do this over the next few weeks. Think of it as a water change/sand pulling out every time you do it.

DarthBaiter · 10/23/2006, 03:04 PM

Yes, there is. I did this with my 14 gallon...

I took out as much water as I could, I then tookout all the LR that was not buried in the sand and all the fish and live stock out. I then took out all my remaining rock and put it in another container with saltwater to rinse the sand off. I then took my shop vac and vacumed all the sand(crushed coral in my case) out. Gave the tank a good wash with RO water and vinegar. I replaced all the rocks after I gave em a good rinse in saltwater, replaced the water I took from the tank and filled the rest with new saltwater. Replaced all my live stock. I got a hardly noticeble cycle and everything came thru fine.

OCDP · 10/23/2006, 03:04 PM

Sounds easy enough. I don't have a big sandbed by any means... maybe 2" MAX. Would it be pretty harmful to remove it all at once?? I'd like to just get it out, run some carbon and clean the tank , but definitely don't wanna harm any of the corals.

And as far as syphoning, I suppose I will just need some big airline tubing eh?? (sorry that never dawned on me 'til now... it's monday) ..

Thanks for the reply,
Scott

DarthBaiter · 10/23/2006, 03:07 PM

My bad, didn't read the "with out taking apart..." after I hit submit.
But, it didn't take more than two three hours and I know I was shiphoning it for more than that before I finally gave in to the $h!+ storm I was getting everytime I shiphoned it.

Travis L. Stevens · 10/23/2006, 03:07 PM

No prob. I'ld just use vinyl tubing of a sufficient length

DarthBaiter · 10/23/2006, 03:09 PM

Also you get a lot of clogs when shiphoing...lol. Another thing that drove me to taking it apart. But I'm glad I did and I see my hair algae getting smaller every day. I have a 30g cycling with black and white sand bed for a black and white tank and I think I ant to get rid of that sand too.

OCDP · 10/23/2006, 03:23 PM

Yeah.. now that I think about it more though.... if I were to syphon the sand out, I'd just end up taking all my water with it.

So unfortunately.. I think tearing apart the tank is the only option

Damnit!

DarthBaiter · 10/23/2006, 03:36 PM

Don't dwell on it too much.
Make as much salt water you can, I reccomand at least the amount your tank, or more. 20g to 30g in your case. Get a few coolers(holds the water temp for the live stock real well) and a few buckets, and lots of towels. and then like Nike says..."just do it"...

OCDP · 10/23/2006, 03:41 PM

Yeah, your right... I should just do it.

I need to go get me some buckets and what not first, then I'll dedicate a day off work to removing the damn evil sand . I tell ya.... BB is the way to go...

Thanks for your suggestions and tips. appreciate it

Scott

10/23/2006, 02:54 PM	#1
OCDP Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eh? Posts: 2,759	How can I remove sand without tearing apart my reef? Wanna go BB! Hmm, is there any way to safely, and effectively remove the sand from my reef (as much as I can) without taking apart the entire tank?? The sand has gotta go!!!! It's evil I tell you.. pure evil. __________________ aaaaaaaannddd.......... I'm broke. Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef / 130w Coralife PC's / Koralia, Seio PH's / AquaC Nano / AC50 /

10/23/2006, 02:57 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It'll take time and effort, but just syphon it out. Of course, you'll probably have to do this over the next few weeks. Think of it as a water change/sand pulling out every time you do it. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

10/23/2006, 03:04 PM	#3
DarthBaiter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 662	Yes, there is. I did this with my 14 gallon... I took out as much water as I could, I then tookout all the LR that was not buried in the sand and all the fish and live stock out. I then took out all my remaining rock and put it in another container with saltwater to rinse the sand off. I then took my shop vac and vacumed all the sand(crushed coral in my case) out. Gave the tank a good wash with RO water and vinegar. I replaced all the rocks after I gave em a good rinse in saltwater, replaced the water I took from the tank and filled the rest with new saltwater. Replaced all my live stock. I got a hardly noticeble cycle and everything came thru fine. __________________ "Fluke, I'm yo faddah, come join me on the DockSIde!" Current Tank Info: 90g reef display 30g sump, 75g display 10g sump, 30g cube display, 12g AP reef, 14g BC reef, and a 75g planted livebearer tank.

10/23/2006, 03:04 PM	#4
OCDP Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eh? Posts: 2,759	Sounds easy enough. I don't have a big sandbed by any means... maybe 2" MAX. Would it be pretty harmful to remove it all at once?? I'd like to just get it out, run some carbon and clean the tank , but definitely don't wanna harm any of the corals. And as far as syphoning, I suppose I will just need some big airline tubing eh?? (sorry that never dawned on me 'til now... it's monday) .. Thanks for the reply, Scott __________________ aaaaaaaannddd.......... I'm broke. Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef / 130w Coralife PC's / Koralia, Seio PH's / AquaC Nano / AC50 /

10/23/2006, 03:07 PM	#5
DarthBaiter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 662	My bad, didn't read the "with out taking apart..." after I hit submit. But, it didn't take more than two three hours and I know I was shiphoning it for more than that before I finally gave in to the $h!+ storm I was getting everytime I shiphoned it. __________________ "Fluke, I'm yo faddah, come join me on the DockSIde!" Current Tank Info: 90g reef display 30g sump, 75g display 10g sump, 30g cube display, 12g AP reef, 14g BC reef, and a 75g planted livebearer tank.

10/23/2006, 03:09 PM	#7
DarthBaiter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 662	Also you get a lot of clogs when shiphoing...lol. Another thing that drove me to taking it apart. But I'm glad I did and I see my hair algae getting smaller every day. I have a 30g cycling with black and white sand bed for a black and white tank and I think I ant to get rid of that sand too. __________________ "Fluke, I'm yo faddah, come join me on the DockSIde!" Current Tank Info: 90g reef display 30g sump, 75g display 10g sump, 30g cube display, 12g AP reef, 14g BC reef, and a 75g planted livebearer tank.

10/23/2006, 03:23 PM	#8
OCDP Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eh? Posts: 2,759	Yeah.. now that I think about it more though.... if I were to syphon the sand out, I'd just end up taking all my water with it. So unfortunately.. I think tearing apart the tank is the only option Damnit! __________________ aaaaaaaannddd.......... I'm broke. Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef / 130w Coralife PC's / Koralia, Seio PH's / AquaC Nano / AC50 /

10/23/2006, 03:36 PM	#9
DarthBaiter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 662	Don't dwell on it too much. Make as much salt water you can, I reccomand at least the amount your tank, or more. 20g to 30g in your case. Get a few coolers(holds the water temp for the live stock real well) and a few buckets, and lots of towels. and then like Nike says..."just do it"... __________________ "Fluke, I'm yo faddah, come join me on the DockSIde!" Current Tank Info: 90g reef display 30g sump, 75g display 10g sump, 30g cube display, 12g AP reef, 14g BC reef, and a 75g planted livebearer tank.

10/23/2006, 03:41 PM	#10
OCDP Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eh? Posts: 2,759	Yeah, your right... I should just do it. I need to go get me some buckets and what not first, then I'll dedicate a day off work to removing the damn evil sand . I tell ya.... BB is the way to go... Thanks for your suggestions and tips. appreciate it Scott __________________ aaaaaaaannddd.......... I'm broke. Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef / 130w Coralife PC's / Koralia, Seio PH's / AquaC Nano / AC50 /