changing substrate

[insacron]

So my tank has been set up since May with a crushed coral substrate, it's what I was recommended to use by the LFS, but now I want to change it out to sand. I'm wondering what the best way to do this is. I've heard that the trapped detritus in the substrate will just cause the tank to crash when released, so do I have to siphon out all/most of the water or what?

Thanks in advance,

Bart

 

[chin]

If its been set up since May, you shouldnt have that much trapped detritus, so I wouldnt worry about crashing the tank. Just be careful not to siphon out too much water

 

[agsansoo]

Siphon out a little at a time, each time you do your water change. Slowly is better than all at once. Though when I did it. I removed half of my crushed coral one day, then the other half on the second day. I removed all my coral and half of my live rock. then started netting the crushed coral out. I did not add sand ... I went barebottom !

Before with crushed coral:

During:

After:

Good luck !
Andy