How to move a DSB?

[chrissreef]

If I set up a 200g and then need to move it out of an apartment in 1-2 years and set it up in a house - how do I prevent all the toxic gasses from escaping into the water and killing everything?

Thanks!

 

[SeanT]

Years ago I was in the same boat.
I removed as much tank water as I could.
Then I placed all the rock, corals fish etc. into rubbermaids with tank water.
I discarded the DSB and used new sand in my tank.
I kept a small amount of the sand to help "seed" the new DSB.

Sean

 

[jgln]

That's exactly what I did and it worked fine. Using too much of the old stuff looked like it was going to foul the water more than it was worth. You can clean the rest then use it later along with the smaller amount you kept. I was amazed how long I had to flush my old stuff before the water ran clean.

 

[chrissreef]

"I was amazed how long I had to flush my old stuff before the water ran clean."

This is why I'm considering going BB and having an external DSB refugium (if at all - sand always gets so dirty)

 

[SeanT]

If you are wanting to go to a BB I can post some links to make your life easier.

Sean

 

[Craig Lambert]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11136877#post11136877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeanT
If you are wanting to go to a BB I can post some links to make your life easier.

Sean

Not to hyjack the thread, but how's the amemone doing seanT? Did he attach? Is he wondering or staying put?

 

[sgtbilko]

Im thinking about going BB on my next move, that link would be great.

 

[zhenjw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11136641#post11136641 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgln
That's exactly what I did and it worked fine. Using too much of the old stuff looked like it was going to foul the water more than it was worth. You can clean the rest then use it later along with the smaller amount you kept. I was amazed how long I had to flush my old stuff before the water ran clean.

I am about to move in 2 weeks and need to remove the sand bed. If I were to reuse the old sand after moving it, would it be detrimental even if I skimmed heavily for several days and did a massive water change?

 

[rbaker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11136191#post11136191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeanT
Years ago I was in the same boat.
I removed as much tank water as I could.
Then I placed all the rock, corals fish etc. into rubbermaids with tank water.
I discarded the DSB and used new sand in my tank.
I kept a small amount of the sand to help "seed" the new DSB.

Sean

I agree with Sean. I'd remove all life you want to keep, isolate it from your system, then tear it down. I'd use 95% new sand and some lightly saltwater rinsed sand from your old DSB.

Good luck...

 

[jgln]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11139262#post11139262 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zhenjw
I am about to move in 2 weeks and need to remove the sand bed. If I were to reuse the old sand after moving it, would it be detrimental even if I skimmed heavily for several days and did a massive water change?

Can't answer that since I never did it that way, but a gallon or two shouldn't dirty the water too much and my tank never crashed or anything. I wouldn't even lightly clean what you do use as it probably has a lot of live animals and benificial bacteria you don't want to wash out. My tank was up for several years and I just knew putting it all in the new tank would make my tank so cloudy I wouldn't be able to see one inch through the water, but your tank may be different.

 

[NewMariner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11139262#post11139262 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zhenjw
I am about to move in 2 weeks and need to remove the sand bed. If I were to reuse the old sand after moving it, would it be detrimental even if I skimmed heavily for several days and did a massive water change?

The problem with this is your going to upset the layers of bacteria when you put that sand back in your tank. The bacteria in the bottom of the sandbed uses little oxygen, and with you stirring up the bed like this, you will kill that bacteria. Skimming and water changes will only reduce the ammonia, and nitrates, it wont restore the bacteria. I would advise to rotate your sand, start with new sand at the new location, let the old sand wash it and air it out, and dry, and then keep it. When you move again you can start the same process over without having to buy new sand.

 

[Raynman]

ditto............. WELL said.... New Mariner.... I moved a 90G tank and 55G refug from Austin,TX 4 yrs ago and only reused the water from tank,which I carted 350 miles. I recently moved tank across the room and got that old sand out (which I had cleaned 4 yrs ago) and reused it....
I remember to this day how nasty it was, and how it took 3 hrs to rinse it 95% clean.... the tank never cycled hard either time ....... just had a little NTS... corals and fish never even knew they had moved.... DO NOT REUSE THE SAND... it's nas!-teee! ........... Ray

 

[jgln]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11142398#post11142398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NewMariner
The problem with this is your going to upset the layers of bacteria when you put that sand back in your tank. The bacteria in the bottom of the sandbed uses little oxygen, and with you stirring up the bed like this, you will kill that bacteria. Skimming and water changes will only reduce the ammonia, and nitrates, it wont restore the bacteria. I would advise to rotate your sand, start with new sand at the new location, let the old sand wash it and air it out, and dry, and then keep it. When you move again you can start the same process over without having to buy new sand.

Would doing that mean his/her whole tank will need to recycle before putting fish and coral back in?

 

[Jareth]

Has anyone had any experience with this while using a plenum? From the article I read in Marine Fish & Aquarium (I think Sept, or Oct 07) the "bad stuff" in LS is not created when using a plenum. In the article the guy had left a 200(?) gal tank for 2 years, testing constantly both the main body of the tank and the plenum space, and after those 2 years he disassembled the tank and found no bad spots in the sand.

 

[NewMariner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11142535#post11142535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgln
Would doing that mean his/her whole tank will need to recycle before putting fish and coral back in?

Yes, you will get a cycle when you disturb the sandbed...to what effect it cycles will vary. It depends on how much sand is disturbed, how far your moving, how big the tank is...all these will contribute. Some only see a small spike in ammonia...others just go through it again. I moved a sandbed and nearly lost all of my fish due to the ammonia...

 

[chrissreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11142682#post11142682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jareth
Has anyone had any experience with this while using a plenum? From the article I read in Marine Fish & Aquarium (I think Sept, or Oct 07) the "bad stuff" in LS is not created when using a plenum. In the article the guy had left a 200(?) gal tank for 2 years, testing constantly both the main body of the tank and the plenum space, and after those 2 years he disassembled the tank and found no bad spots in the sand.

I've heard similar - I'm still up in the air on Plenums... I've thought about just using large sand/gravel to achieve the same affect (like how some people put rocks at the bottom of their plant pots for drainage) - but I dunno. hmmm

 

[Jareth]

I dont think the sand/gravel would work as a plenum. The plenum is really just a bare water space under your gravel. The plenum I am making (in blog) is 1/2" PVC and will be wrapped in filter material to stop gravel/sand from entering the space so you end up with a low-ox water space.