moving/cleaning a sand bed

[Texastravis]

Im not reall "new to the hobby" but I figured this question belonged here.

I am moving a 200 gallon saltwater aquarium (corals and fish). My question is how to transport the sand bed. I will have to scoop it out into buckets to be able to move the tank.

Will scooping this sand out open up nitrate and ammonia problems? Should I go ahead and rinse out the sand with a water hose and clean it all out really good?

Just trying to get some stuff straitened out, please let me know! Im moving this baby tomorrow morning!!!! EEEK

 

[patsfan1130]

anytime I have moved my tanks (unfortunately it's been too many times) I have emptied the tank the night before by placing all of my LR in brute trash cans and putting the livestock in rubbermaid bins (giving them the becessary heaters etc). then I hook up to Aquaclear filters...give the sand a stir and let the filters do their job. in the morning..the fun of moving begins.

 

[RyanDragon]

how long had u have the sand >?? if it's over 2-3 years than u better off go buy new sand, cause no matter how u clean, there will be some detrius left over that will cause an ammonia spike when u set ur tank up again..that's just my opionion...

 

[Texastravis]

ammonia spikes are what I was afraid of. I really dont want to just throw the sand away? I figured long established live sand is better than brand new sand.

Im picking up a tank that is 2hours from where i live, not just moving one of my tanks around.

 

[Sk8r]

My lfs (longtime reefer is owner) advised me to discard sand and take the chance to clean the tank up. New sand installed with old rock seeds fast. I had a 5 day cycle.

ON THE OTHER HAND---I had to take my sump fuge apart because I had to take off an external pump. I bucketed my sand in tank water, then used gloves (worms) and simply lifted it with spread fingers to let it drain as I was putting it back in. What stayed behind was gross. What i put in reestablished within a very short time, perhaps hours; it had been 8 hours out of the tank in those buckets. I did have a redundant sandbed: that in the display tank above was unaffected, but I didn't even get an ammonia blip out of it---corals in the reef were in full extension and happy during it all, except that by the end of 8 hours we were sweating the oxygenation.

 

[Texastravis]

Oh dear I am not sure what to do now. If I get new sand I supose I could go get some at Home Depot right? The crushed limestone stuff or w/e its called?

So if I move this tank and get new sand what to do with fish and corals? I cant just add new sand and the old water and add all the live rock and fish can I?

Here is the deal, this 220 gallon im getting I WIL NOT BE SETTING IT UP. Ill be keeping the rock, corals, and fish that are in it (mainly xenias, a few tangs, and a goby). Now what to do with the corals in fish while I set up my other big tank? I do have a spare tank in the garage so should I add the old sand or new sand in it along with the old water?

Oh gosh im not looking forward to this

 

[Gold Stripe]

If you've got a spare tank then just put everything in it minus the sand and go bare bottom until you get the new tank set up.

Use new sand in the new tank and then transfer the rest (rock,coral,fish, etc) over.