is it safe to move LS from 1 tank to another?

[Redcastle]

I am downsizing from a 50 gallon to 2 12 gallon nanos.
I am considering just taking a bunch of my live sand out of the 50 to put in the nanos. However, would i be messing wtih the aroebic and anarobic bateria in the sand and therefore be causing probelms for myself?

I also noticed that there were parts of my LR, mostly that which was buried in the sand that were a pretty impressive steel grey. I am thinking that those parts of the rocks are no longer good and i should break off those bad parts and throw them away.

Am i on the right track?:

 

[supernareg]

emm.... i wouldnt... its such a small piece that it wouldnt really matter... i'd say transfer everything. the sand wouldnt cause problems... the rock would possibly rise some nitrates/ ammonia... but not too much. i've done it before... w/o any noticable affects, just do a 30% waterchange (ph/temp/ salinity matched) in a week and u'll be fine

 

[Bebo77]

dont worry about those parts of the live rock and try and only keep the top couple inches of the sand to move into your new tank...

 

[DANNY G2004]

I second what Gabriel says but you still will have a spike make sure you have your water ready to make a change, me personally wouldn't use the sand untill it was washed with the same water from the 50 just to avoid big spikes.

 

[noschmo]

I third it.

 

[Bebo77]

lol thanks for the support....