Moving from bb to sand bed

Kabe · 02/15/2006, 10:40 PM

My tank is currently Bb, but i really want to put sand in it now. Would it start a mini cycle if i put a new bag of sand in the tank?

143gadgets · 02/15/2006, 11:47 PM

NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Don't do it!!!!!

Just Jk. I think at most you will just have a small sand storm. Remember to rinse your sand very well before putting it into the tank. Good luck.

Dubbin1 · 02/15/2006, 11:54 PM

There is really no reason to rinse the sand. To help reduce the sandstorm use a funnel with a hose attached to it long enough to reach the bottom of the tank and pour the sand through it. If you do use wet sand though the funnel trick will not work.

flyhigh123 · 02/15/2006, 11:58 PM

i would rinse it... i hate those little particles ove everything... i mean sure it goes away after a while, but its easier just to rinse it away.

I use a bucket, and use a hose to wash it, swirl it with my hand and dump water... repeat until water is clear.

then I use ro water to re rinse.

I would put the sand in a bag, sink it to the bottom, then cut it open so it doesnt get everywhere..

also turn off pumps...

Froggy · 02/16/2006, 08:36 AM

IMO it depends on the type of sand bed you are putting in as to whether you rinse it or not. Deep or shallow? I would not rinse the sand too much as the silt is an important size distribution for the varying grain sizes in a DSB. If you are setting up a shallower larger grain sand bed that you will be vacuuming, Then yes I would also rinse it before use. JMO

The Reefer91 · 02/16/2006, 09:07 AM

it's funny because the title of the thread is usually the other way around

HotHotHot · 02/16/2006, 09:07 AM

Welcome back to the light!

Pandora · 02/16/2006, 09:11 AM

You're going to have a lot of cloudiness regardless of whether you rinse (though prerinsing reduces a little bit of it). It's not really going to start a new cycle, you're just increasing the surface area for the bacteria to populate, but it will be annoying the first few days with sediment floating around clouding the tank. It may bother some of the photosynthetic or filter feeding animals you have in the tank.

NoSchwag · 02/16/2006, 12:18 PM

Don't you have to wait for the bacterial layers to establish?

Kabe · 02/16/2006, 09:55 PM

Wash the sand in non-salt water? I want to set up a shallow sand bed because bb just doesnt look good enough for my tastes.

davocean · 02/16/2006, 10:14 PM

I'd rinse in saltwater first, then do like flighhigh says with bag
I'm actually thinking of taking sand out and going bare myself

supertech3 · 02/16/2006, 10:57 PM

IME the way I like to do it is to put the sand in a plastic like tupperware bowl and let the tank water fill up the bowl and then sink it to the bottom holding it and dump it where you want it you will still have some debris but that will settle overnight

02/15/2006, 10:40 PM	#1
Kabe Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 49	Moving from bb to sand bed My tank is currently Bb, but i really want to put sand in it now. Would it start a mini cycle if i put a new bag of sand in the tank?

02/16/2006, 09:07 AM	#6
The Reefer91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,250	it's funny because the title of the thread is usually the other way around __________________ Dan "Every day we fade little by little, 'till there's nothing left of us but the lies we've sown." Current Tank Info: 20g L display: 2x65watt Coralife light, Octopus 150 needle wheel protein skimmer, 1 Koralia 2 and 2 powersweeps, and a DIY sump/fuge.....120G in the works!!!

02/16/2006, 09:07 AM	#7
HotHotHot Obligate Coral Killer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 643	Welcome back to the light! __________________ It is NOT a dry heat! Click the little red house to read my 225 thread. Current Tank Info: 200gal NWV, 34ppt, 6" DSB, 750W MH, XM 20K, 220W VHO, CL, MP40W X2, chiller, GAC, Starting NeoZeo 7/18/09

02/16/2006, 09:11 AM	#8
Pandora Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Maryland near DC Posts: 1,706	You're going to have a lot of cloudiness regardless of whether you rinse (though prerinsing reduces a little bit of it). It's not really going to start a new cycle, you're just increasing the surface area for the bacteria to populate, but it will be annoying the first few days with sediment floating around clouding the tank. It may bother some of the photosynthetic or filter feeding animals you have in the tank. __________________ Where are we going... And why am I in this handbasket? Current Tank Info: 75gal reef tank, 30 gal octopus tank, Other: 75gal planted Amazon tank

02/16/2006, 12:18 PM	#9
NoSchwag Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterbury, Ct. Posts: 2,530	Don't you have to wait for the bacterial layers to establish? __________________ Keeping low levels of po4 without chemicals since 2005. Current Tank Info: Beckett skimmed, penductor flowed, luminarc lighted, UV sterilized, litermeter dosed, Aquacontroller controlled, SPS dominated, 120 BB tank.

02/15/2006, 11:47 PM	#2
143gadgets Moved On Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,151	NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Don't do it!!!!! Just Jk. I think at most you will just have a small sand storm. Remember to rinse your sand very well before putting it into the tank. Good luck.

02/15/2006, 11:54 PM	#3
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	There is really no reason to rinse the sand. To help reduce the sandstorm use a funnel with a hose attached to it long enough to reach the bottom of the tank and pour the sand through it. If you do use wet sand though the funnel trick will not work.

02/15/2006, 11:58 PM	#4
flyhigh123 funky member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hacienda Heights (605 and 60 fwy) Posts: 1,893	i would rinse it... i hate those little particles ove everything... i mean sure it goes away after a while, but its easier just to rinse it away. I use a bucket, and use a hose to wash it, swirl it with my hand and dump water... repeat until water is clear. then I use ro water to re rinse. I would put the sand in a bag, sink it to the bottom, then cut it open so it doesnt get everywhere.. also turn off pumps...

02/16/2006, 08:36 AM	#5
Froggy Reef "Hobbyist"...right!? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 2,160	IMO it depends on the type of sand bed you are putting in as to whether you rinse it or not. Deep or shallow? I would not rinse the sand too much as the silt is an important size distribution for the varying grain sizes in a DSB. If you are setting up a shallower larger grain sand bed that you will be vacuuming, Then yes I would also rinse it before use. JMO

02/16/2006, 09:55 PM	#10
Kabe Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 49	Wash the sand in non-salt water? I want to set up a shallow sand bed because bb just doesnt look good enough for my tastes.

02/16/2006, 10:14 PM	#11
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I'd rinse in saltwater first, then do like flighhigh says with bag I'm actually thinking of taking sand out and going bare myself __________________ 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

02/16/2006, 10:57 PM	#12
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	IME the way I like to do it is to put the sand in a plastic like tupperware bowl and let the tank water fill up the bowl and then sink it to the bottom holding it and dump it where you want it you will still have some debris but that will settle overnight