Ick, Now waiting, Changing to sand?

[tinkerbelle]

I had a horrible bout of Ick. I'm now keeping the tank empty for a month, and wanted to change over to sand instead of crusched coral. My question is how does this affect my green star, anemone's and crabs and snails etc. Is it ok to create that much of a change, with the switch? and how does that affect them?
Also whats the best way to switch over......... I can move the rock to a large bucket etc witht with the inverts......... and scoop the stuff out..........Has anyone switched like this?

 

[Jocko]

Well with such a light bioload, this is probably a good time to do it. The popular method for making the switch is to change it out a part at a time. Maybe do like 1/3 and then wait a week. Do another 1/3. Etc...

Also just wanted to point out something to remember about having tank with no fish in it for so long (not related to changing the sand): the reduced bioload means that the bacteria population will decrease a lot. So be sure to take it slowly when you start adding livestock back in.

 

[tinkerbelle]

So I should leave all the inverts and coral in the tank? and do a slower change or do I need to take them out.........even the anemone? that cloud of sand I keep reading about is not harmful to them?

 

[tinkerbelle]

Any other way to switch over? Suggestions?

 

[NightShade00013]

I have read a few places that suggest using a cup or bowl to place the sand in the bottom of the tank to lessen any cloudyness. Also saw one which used a pice of PVC pipe to allow the sand to go to the bottom of a pretty deep tank but kept the clouding down. You might try somehting like this. As far as causing problems or not is someone else's department.