removing a sandbed

[RyanEG]

What are going to be my best options and time frames to reduce my sand bed from 3" to an inch or less? I'm looking to keep as much biodiversity as possible and keep the cycling risks to a minimum. The sand is about two years old and is a mix of mostly sugar sized with some sea floor grade and I'm looking at nutrient reduction as my primary goal with flow increases being secondary.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

When I removed the DSB from my 55 years ago, I just siphoned out a few cups of sand with every water change, using the same old 1/2" tubing I was using to siphon out the water. I tried to skim the surface, as opposed to siphoning a small area all the way to the bottom. Took a few months but I had zero issues. And that sand was older/dirtier than yours, by the sounds of it.

 

[superkat]

i've been gradually siphoning off the sandbed in the 90g, Ryan. A little at a time with each water change, as well.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

a Python device will remove sugar fine sand while leaving special grade seafloor type intact.

Garden hose (or similar) will slurp up anything that fits.

 

[S Helinski]

+1 on Siphoning out sand with every waterchange!

Super Easy. Almost no chance of having a nitrogen cycle problem.

But, be careful with regards to your rockstack. Are your rocks on top of the sand? If they are--be prepared for a rockslide.

Also, when you finally remove all the sand, or if you opt to take everything out and remove all the sand at once, you might want to consider the use of starboard or any marine-safe polymer. This will reflect light back onto coral tissue, as well as protect the glass and stablize rock formations...

Steve

 

[RyanEG]

Im not going to go entirely barebottom, well on this tank anyways. That is the current plan for the 120 rimless if I ever scrounge up the funds to put it together. My stack is firmly based off the bottom glass.