changing out a sandbed---I hope, the safe way

Sk8r · 07/11/2008, 11:18 AM

It's the fine sand stuff. Do NOT get fine sand if you have high flow. It's a pita.

I'm pulling it, in favor of medium/coarse sand, which won't be as pretty, but my corals will.

How I'm doing it: first, I have a second sandbed, 54 display, 20g fuge with its own sandbed. I have live rock in both display and fuge.
And: my rocks are all set on eggcrate. No matter how undermined, they will not roll.

Best instruments:
1. a plastic broad 1 cup measuring cup with a stub handle. To get the deep open spots with NO water included.
2. a plastic hose one diameter UNDER 1/2 inch: handles that fine sand really well.

Procedure: dip, then siphon, by stages. I've got about half of it out now. I rely on the pistol shrimp to shove more out from under the rocks.

Effects of removal: none. No rise in nitrates to speak of, no ammonia. For one thing, that sandbed was so mobile it was darned near non-functional, so there were no dead pockets. For another, any 'stuff' in the sand goes right up the siphon. Siphon efficiency: steady stream of sand/crud/water slurry.

So I hope my new sand will be 'in' at the lfs next week. But I'm going to go ahead siphoning and dumping.

Sk8r · 07/11/2008, 01:31 PM

GEtting just a little slight crankiness out of the euphyllia, which are ordinarily lush: I've started some carbon just in case.

Michael · 07/11/2008, 01:35 PM

when i removed mine, i thought it looked great in the tank with a bare bottom and nearly left it that way, glad i didnt now, funilly enough the sand i put in was small grain, however ive had no problems, (yet) the carbon is a good idea by the way

Sk8r · 07/11/2008, 01:37 PM

The amazing thing is---when I did the last siphon, I left bare eggcrate, even vacant eggcrate in the front of the tank: in 4 hours, so much sand has 'walked' in there it is covering the eggcrate about 3/4 inch deep.

THAT's why I'm replacing that cursed sandbed!

Sk8r · 07/11/2008, 03:26 PM

An hour later---the euphyllias and the crocea clam are getting back to their cheerful selves. The montipora has never flinched. The gsp is still annoyed.

mouscacha · 07/11/2008, 04:35 PM

I had little pieces of rock in my sand, so the siphon tube would always get stuck. I opted for option #2 which is a 5HP 4Gal Wet/Vac. hehe... Talk about suction! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAW!

07/11/2008, 11:18 AM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	changing out a sandbed---I hope, the safe way It's the fine sand stuff. Do NOT get fine sand if you have high flow. It's a pita. I'm pulling it, in favor of medium/coarse sand, which won't be as pretty, but my corals will. How I'm doing it: first, I have a second sandbed, 54 display, 20g fuge with its own sandbed. I have live rock in both display and fuge. And: my rocks are all set on eggcrate. No matter how undermined, they will not roll. Best instruments: 1. a plastic broad 1 cup measuring cup with a stub handle. To get the deep open spots with NO water included. 2. a plastic hose one diameter UNDER 1/2 inch: handles that fine sand really well. Procedure: dip, then siphon, by stages. I've got about half of it out now. I rely on the pistol shrimp to shove more out from under the rocks. Effects of removal: none. No rise in nitrates to speak of, no ammonia. For one thing, that sandbed was so mobile it was darned near non-functional, so there were no dead pockets. For another, any 'stuff' in the sand goes right up the siphon. Siphon efficiency: steady stream of sand/crud/water slurry. So I hope my new sand will be 'in' at the lfs next week. But I'm going to go ahead siphoning and dumping. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/11/2008, 01:35 PM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	when i removed mine, i thought it looked great in the tank with a bare bottom and nearly left it that way, glad i didnt now, funilly enough the sand i put in was small grain, however ive had no problems, (yet) the carbon is a good idea by the way __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

07/11/2008, 01:37 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The amazing thing is---when I did the last siphon, I left bare eggcrate, even vacant eggcrate in the front of the tank: in 4 hours, so much sand has 'walked' in there it is covering the eggcrate about 3/4 inch deep. THAT's why I'm replacing that cursed sandbed! __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/11/2008, 03:26 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	An hour later---the euphyllias and the crocea clam are getting back to their cheerful selves. The montipora has never flinched. The gsp is still annoyed. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/11/2008, 01:31 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	GEtting just a little slight crankiness out of the euphyllia, which are ordinarily lush: I've started some carbon just in case. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/11/2008, 04:35 PM	#6
mouscacha Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 348	I had little pieces of rock in my sand, so the siphon tube would always get stuck. I opted for option #2 which is a 5HP 4Gal Wet/Vac. hehe... Talk about suction! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAW!