Moving a tank

[Axel3034]

I have a 100 gallon reef, some mushrooms and tree corals. I lost my livestock due to ich about a month ago. I'm about to move in about a month. My question is that should I replace all the sand when I move? The sand bed is a few years old and figure now would be as good a time as any to put new sand in the tank. And if so should I just put live sand because there are some corals or should I just dumb the bags into the tank, aquascape and add water?

 

[thegrun]

I would get new sand, but get dry sand. The dry sand is less expensive since you are not paying for the water live sand is packaged in. Live sand often has more dead than live organics in it wich can cause a new cycle and dry sand can easily be rinsed with tap water to remove the fines (dust) where live sand needs to be rinsed with saltwater.

 

[frey]

i agree with thegrun. now would be a good time to change sand. I have never heard good things come from re-using old sand. 0nce you disturb the sand more so in a tank with a DSB its bad news.

 

[carrots]

Why change sand? I would and have re-used my 20 year old sand through many tank moves and upgrades. After removing all live critters,corals & live rock. I keep a large bucket of the old tank water and rinse the sand in it as I remove it from old tank. Then place into another bucket for transport. Make sure you check the bottom of the rinsing bucket for any snails etc. It is more work then buying new sand but it always worked for me and helped avoided new cycles. Make sure the tank is without fish for at least 60 days to eliminate the ich. in the sand rock.

 

[Axel3034]

Okay I'm thinking of using Carib Sea black Tahitian Moon sand, I like the look of the black in my other tank. And it is dry sand