Changing sand in tank

[tskinner]

I recently set up a 20gal about 6-7 weeks ago. Cycle is complete and so far for livestock I have a lawnmower blenny, perc, snails, hermits, and an emerald crab. For corals I have some mushrooms, ricordia, zoos, torch, gsp, and 2 leathers. When I set it up the sand I used was really big and everything collects on it and the hermits have problems keeping it clean. Is it possible to change the sand to a smaller fine substrate. I was thinking of taking the tank water out and putting some in a 10gal tank, and the rest in buckets. I would put the fish and corals in the 10gal with my current light setup over it and then put the LR in a bucket with a powerhead. Then put some water back in, aquascape, and then fill it back up. Then add the new sand, let it settle for a day or two and put everything back in. The only thing that would be changing would be the sand, all the water would be the same the goes back in as well as the livestock. Is this do able? Has anyone ever done it? Or is there another way to do it? Thanks. Any suggestions are appreciated and if this idea is completely out to lunch, please advice me.

 

[thewashcaps]

Your sand has alot of the microbes if you remove it might have to cycle all over again. IMO i wouldnt do it

 

[waxy]

Moving the sand around in your system, will disrupt the ecosystems balance.

In otherwords, you are screwing yourself over if you are doign that.

Even if you add sand, it is wise to only add a cup per day depending on the size of your system.

 

[tskinner]

I thought that draining all the water out without disrupting the sandbed, then refilling it with the old water, then adding the new sand and the 25lbs of cured live rock would work. Then I just planning on letting it settle down and then start adding stuff back.