Moving sand bed to new tank?

reefkeeper135 · 01/30/2008, 09:49 PM

Is it safe to rinse the sand with fresh water? will the fresh water kill the "life" in the sand? anyone have any experience with this?

chinoxl3 · 01/30/2008, 10:09 PM

You are better off with new sand and then seeding it with a few cups of the old sand. There is a lot of bacteria in that sand and when you disturb it, bad things happen.

Mavrk · 01/30/2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chinoxl3
You are better off with new sand and then seeding it with a few cups of the old sand. There is a lot of bacteria in that sand and when you disturb it, bad things happen.

Yeah, you could clean the old sand and let it dry, etc etc. But I don't think it is worth it. Just get new sand and put a few cups of the old one on top of it. Do not rinse the old sand you save for seeding.

Hop · 01/31/2008, 12:12 AM

Avoid the problems and use new sand.

MikePowell · 01/31/2008, 08:06 AM

third the new sand. i tried that once and had horrible algae. ended up taking the tank down and using new sand.

thor32766 · 01/31/2008, 08:08 AM

you could rinse it over and over and over to start with new sand. Just save some of it to keep it live and then reseed it.

reefkeeper135 · 01/31/2008, 08:16 AM

OK so new sand for sure....in a 240 how much old sand would be a good start to seed the new?

Hop · 01/31/2008, 08:22 AM

A cup. It will seed fine with just the rock though.

thecichlidpleco · 01/31/2008, 08:24 AM

How often should someone reseed a tank, or any signs to do so.

reefkeeper135 · 01/31/2008, 04:34 PM

any idea on how many pounds would be needed to put a nice thin thayer on a tank 72x30 I just want enough sand for a nice natural look. and to hide some acrylic used for aquascaping.

Mavrk · 01/31/2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefkeeper135
any idea on how many pounds would be needed to put a nice thin thayer on a tank 72x30 I just want enough sand for a nice natural look. and to hide some acrylic used for aquascaping.

Try the calculator on the home page of RC:

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/SandBed.php

reefkeeper135 · 01/31/2008, 06:42 PM

OOP's forgot about that...thanks

01/30/2008, 09:49 PM	#1
reefkeeper135 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 531	Moving sand bed to new tank? Is it safe to rinse the sand with fresh water? will the fresh water kill the "life" in the sand? anyone have any experience with this?

01/30/2008, 10:09 PM	#2
chinoxl3 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Kendall, FL Posts: 369	You are better off with new sand and then seeding it with a few cups of the old sand. There is a lot of bacteria in that sand and when you disturb it, bad things happen. __________________ All your reefs are belong to us Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Mixed SPS and LPS

01/31/2008, 12:12 AM	#4
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Avoid the problems and use new sand. __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

01/31/2008, 08:08 AM	#6
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	you could rinse it over and over and over to start with new sand. Just save some of it to keep it live and then reseed it. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

01/31/2008, 08:22 AM	#8
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	A cup. It will seed fine with just the rock though. __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

01/31/2008, 08:06 AM	#5
MikePowell Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 1,141	third the new sand. i tried that once and had horrible algae. ended up taking the tank down and using new sand.

01/31/2008, 08:16 AM	#7
reefkeeper135 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 531	OK so new sand for sure....in a 240 how much old sand would be a good start to seed the new?

01/31/2008, 08:24 AM	#9
thecichlidpleco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,227	How often should someone reseed a tank, or any signs to do so. __________________ knowledge is power, power leads to abuse, study hard, be evil Owning a tank is like being with that girlfriend who could care less about you, but you couldn't stand being without her. Current Tank Info: 125 Reef, (3) 250w aquamedic oceanlights ETSS 600 skimmer, mag12 return, (2) Tunze 6055's with 7095 controller, 100 gallon sump

01/31/2008, 04:34 PM	#10
reefkeeper135 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 531	any idea on how many pounds would be needed to put a nice thin thayer on a tank 72x30 I just want enough sand for a nice natural look. and to hide some acrylic used for aquascaping.

01/31/2008, 06:42 PM	#12
reefkeeper135 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 531	OOP's forgot about that...thanks