HELP PLEASE, I just took out CC...

[kremit2007]

OK guys. I just took out almost all of the CC and subsequent fine sand which used to make up my SB. There is still about a gallon or so left...I have LS ready and waiting to go into the tank once I have everything, like the base rock, in place. Since the tank is so cloudy, I was not able to ensure all inverts and such were unharmed. I took out all coral and fish - except the eel (couldn't catch him).

First I want to say that I found it absolutely amazing how many different organisms came swimming from the rocks as I lifted them. How cool is it to see the tank you created hosting hundreds of little critters from red hairy looking worms about an inch long (I.D.?) to clear/white looking tiny shrimp (I.D.?) to other centipede looking (I.D.) organisms. Just awesome.

Anyway, back to the help I need, I was reading and kind of went fast, that it was ok and many people remove almost or all of their CC at once if they are replacing it with LS. Was that smart? I hope I didn't screw up too much. Remember, I was at the end of another cycle since my tank crashed killing almost all of my fish earlier this month. I hope I didn't make things worse, more LR is coming on Sunday.

At any rate, my plan is to let the snow storm settle (since I can't see into the tank right now) and then add the LS, slowly, through a long piece of tube to keep the clouding down. Any other ideas?

OH! Almost forgot. I have my coral, crabs, and snails in a rubbermaid bin with a heater and powerhead for now. It is only the equivalent of about 5 or so gallons of their water from the tank. Is this ok?

 

[Swanwillow]

well, your probably going to have a nitrate spike, since you released a bunch of decomposing 'stuff' into your tank. Watch the parameters over the next few days.
The worms were bristle worms most likely, then copepods and amphipods, I dunno bout the centipede looking things though.

 

[clsanchez77]

Hey Eric,

Personally, I think you are dragging this out too much. Place all the sand in and the rocks in and turn on the pumps. Most of the sand/silt will settle after 24 hours, yes even with the pumps on. If you don't turn the pumps on, it will settle faster, but then will just recreate the sandstorm when you do turn the pumps on. It will take longer for the extra fines to settle as they will require bacteria to coat there surfaces so they can coagulate. They will end up depositing on your rock. The fish will be fine and inverts will be fine in the tank after the sand and rock is placed (we don't want to crush anyone). The only thing you will have to take care is the corals, just add them back after a day. In my opinion, you are doing more harm by holding everything in a 5 bucket.

I have a 90 and I completely removed the rock, partially changed the substrate and re-aquascaped the rock. I did not even loose any sponge after having the rock out of the water for several hours, and I have a lot of sponge. I did 'loose' one gorgonia. I cut it off and a year later it is growing back from just a chunk of epoxy.

Also, the tank is going to go through a cycle not matter what you do, so you need to minimize the cycle by restablishing the tank as quickly as possible. Do this by getting everything back in there. To protect your livestock, you will want to perform water changes. Do 5 gallons daily for a week, then 5 every other day for a week. If you skip the water changes, nitrates and phophates will build up and you will have to do bigger water changes of have massive algae breakouts. After this you should be fine.

Also, despite everything you will read about not feeding the tank during the cycle, feed the tank during the cycle. This will shorten the duration by preserving your food chain. Your tank develops a food chain around what you feed it. If you do not feed the tank, you will loose a chunck of that food chain, further contributing to nutrients as dying organisms, and then later when you do resume feeding, as you no longer have the nutrient processing capacity. The neat organisms you describe are part of that.

The fauna you have in the crushed coral is really cool and it will really thrive in the sandbed.

Good Luck

Chris

 

[kremit2007]

Thanks guys, the sand is going in right now. I will have to reaquascape once i get the new rock and all but that wont be so bad. I will just wait for it to settle, and by sunday night everything will be done. Thanks again...