Need advice on moving tank with DSB

[PruneHands]

I am moving next month and need some advice on how to move my tank. I think I know what to do with everything but the deep sand bed. From what I understand if I disturb it it will release toxins and whatnot and cause buku trouble. Seeing as how I have more than 100 lbs of it in the tank I dont see how I can move the tank without removing/disturbig the DSB. Any advice on how to move it and set it back up at the new place would be apprecated.

It is a 90 gallon tank with about 3-4" of sand and I have a 30 gallon sump with a 1/3 section also having a 6" deep sand bed.

Thanks in advance.

 

[2crazyreefers]

IMO it is best to not re-use but if you really want to keep it a dust pan works great to scoop it out. This will really tuff to re-use but if you do I would let the tank run for a while without livestock while you keep checking levels. FYI most people I know who tried this (re-using) lost lots of livestock.

 

[PruneHands]

Is it even possible to just pick up the tank with just the live sand in the bottom and move it? I calculated the weight and it is about 130 lbs of sand. The tank probably weighs about 200 lbs. If the weight of the sand won't crack the bottom I think me and a buddy can pick it up and move it with just the wet sand in the bottom.

If it breaks I will have a bunch of liverock and livestock for immdediate sale : )

 

[aharrow]

I just finished moving my tank and had the same issue. Should I keep the sand that I paid a lot for as live sand? So the first thing I did was pull part out, rinsed it about six different times and then rinsed it some more and let it sit for two months. I then pulled out rock from a buddies tank and cleaned, and let sit for two months in a bin. I then put both into my new tank with no fish, coral, etc. First thing that happened I expected, a mini cycle. However, I never expected for the phosphates to go through the roof and I mean through the roof at a reading of 1 on the Salifert. So I did not move the rest of the sand when I broke down my old tank. Threw it away.

In my opinion, it is not worth the hassle and problems that it created just to save some money on live sand. I bit the bullet and bought two new bags and let my tank run its cycle for a month. It created too much of a sand storm moving the little bit of sand that I did move. So I would not recommend it. Start over and seed with some live sand.