moving sandbed (tank to tank)

[rocride]

I have a sandbed of about 2" in a 90g that's been running for a year and i want to transfer it to the new system firstly into the fuge section as a dsb and what is leftover into the display...

what's the best way to do this or should i just pull out enough to seed and wash the rest? or buy new?

thanks

RR

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I would just save a bit to seed a new sand bed, unless you have the time to wash the old sand.

 

[kendaroo]

I always prefer just buying new sand... but I'm lazy and find rinsing to be a pain. I wouldn't reuse any of the sand. Just throw some live rock rubble in to help seed. The old sand is probably pretty rank.

 

[Sharpie_]

like everyone is saying keep some of the sand to seed and either rinse really well or buy new sand.

 

[rifishguy]

I moved mine from one to the other big mistake should have bought new all the junk from under the sand mixed up had nothing but trouble for almost a year.

 

[rocride]

glad i asked...ya i'm leaning towards all new sand but just thought it was a waste to not use the old sand...add to that i'm lazy too i would say that new sand it is..

so the sand the the lfs sell as 'live sand' ...worthwhile?

what's the best sand to use for a dsb?

 

[dublo8]

I never had a problem moving sand from tank to tank. I do rinse it out and scoop the floating stuff from the water and then "rinse and repeat" at least twice. I dont see why you would want to get rid of all that good stuff in there and start new. Rinsing at least gets rid of all the crud in there. Plus it helps to calm the sandstorm from placing the sand in the tank.

 

[rocride]

that's what i was thinking too,keep all that beneficial goodness but by using the sand for a dsb i think there will be a lot of die-off unless i thoroughly wash it and even then could i ever get it really clean?

adding it to the display as a ssb really wouldn't be an issue if done slowly,maybe by sliding it in through a piece of 2" pvc...i guess just looking for different opinions because from what i have read , i really don't know in depth the chemistry behind it but sandbeds can be beneficial but also a timebomb too....i have thought about putting in about 4" of new sand and then putting an inch or two of the established sand on top....should be a good way to kick start the dsb filter