replacing aquarium reuse sand or not?

[buffalo123]

I have a shallow sand bed almost all of it is open as the rock sits up off the sand. I have two sand sifters that goiing at it as usual . would i be able to reuse the sand in a new setup without washing.
I want to switch aquariums ( replace aquarium with similar aquarium)and will reuse everything in the current setup.
Would i be able to reuse the sand; and what problems will i come up against if any? Was not planning on washing it just use it as it is. Currently the sand thickness less than one inch.

 

[Reefmedic79]

How old was the old set-up?

Overall, I don't see much issue with it. I would probably rinse it will some of the water from the old tank though. Get a 10-20 Gal. rubbermaid bin put all the sand in it then top off with old tank water. Agitate the sand with a powerful pump or even your hands to get any dutritus that may be in the sand to suspend itself in the water, then toss the water.

When I moved a tan kin the past I re-used the sand and ended up with a huge hair algea bloom. If you do a couple water changes shortly after the nes set-up I think this could be avoided.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I'm guessing this is an older set up so the sand may be pretty dirty. Moving it will release a lot of 'stuff' you don't want in the new tank. If you are moving good corals and fish into the new tank, I'd either wash the sand or don't put the old corals and fish in the new tank until water parameters fall back into line. Good luck.

 

[jamesdean3]

i would really recommend new sand.. reefman is right, there is going to be alot of nasty in that water. I just moved my tank and upgraded to 92 corner BF, let me tell you that the smell of that sand will let you know it shouldn't be re-used ......... its terrible

 

[FragIt Dan]

Pros:
I reuse my sand and have done so for years in various tanks. When I take a tank down I clean the sand thoroughly in a rubbermaid bin with a hose (just stick the hose to the bottom of the bin and it will liquify the sand). After doing this for several minutes and letting the water overflow, your sand will be relatively clean from all the muck. This is cheap and lets you re-use it.

Cons
I am under the impression that sand adheres phosphates from your water and can become saturated, similar to GFO. This is different than the muck that can be washed off, it needs to be chemically removed and is not something I can speak on (perhaps a process similar to GFO regeneration would work?). I have never worried about this because I am running RO/DI and ferrous based phosphate controls, and so do not have a phosphate battle, or more accurately put: I am winning the phosphate battle . I don't think the sand holds much phosphate (but I don't really know) and so have never seen the benefit of buying new sand... I just wash it thoroughly and re-use it. If you do this though, you may lose the biological filtration it has been providing your old tank for the first several weeks of your new setup (although I would expect it to take this long with new sand or old washed sand), so beware of your tanks reactions after the move.

Best of luck either way!
Dan

 

[austin93]

Always switch the sand imo. I see no benefit other than cost saving, and loads of issues due to keeping it. Don't risk releasing all that nastiness back into the tank.

 

[jong11]

Been thinking about this as well. How much life lives in the sand vs the live rock?

 

[FragIt Dan]

Some very good points about the risk of consequence being high and the cost of replacement being low, it would be a shame to lose a tank. When I have moved my tanks, re-using sand or not, I do a couple of big water changes in the first week or so.

On the other hand there is a 'bare tank bottom' thread where there are lots of people wishing they had gone without sand altogether, so maybe this will solve your problem!

As for the relative amount of life in the sand vs. rock, this will change depending on a lot of factors like depth of sand, types of rocks, bioload etc., there really isn't an easy answer for that one. I think what you are trying to figure out is how important the sand bed is?

 

[ravin01]

Moved old tank

Moved old tank

Just as an FYI - I purchased a new stand. I had a crew of guy's first move the old tank a few feet. They took the water out and slid it on the carpet. They then filled it back with water. Everything seemed fine.

A month later I put a tile pad and the new stand in place. The old aquarium was feet away. This time we had to lift the aquarium. Everything was disturbed by putting it into buckets.

The consequences:

1. I lost at least a thousand dollars to Ich.
2. I'm now battling Bryopsis.

I've moved on from the loss of fish. Now battling Bryo****. After tons of large water changes, I'm using Tech M.

If this doen't work. I will purchase and condition dry rock and start over....... I think all could have been avoided by using new sand and the old live rock.

My next move will be to replace all of the sand and put the aquascaping back in place. Then I will put brand new sand in it's place.

 

[ravin01]

New Tank

New Tank

If the new sand doen't work. I will get new dry rock and salvage corals to start over with this summer.

My advise is never to use the old sand. It's where all of the nitrate, ich, and other stuff resides.

 

[outy]

I would reuse it.

But I would wash it very good with old tank water.


I have had success doing this over the decades, washing it well is key.

 

[jmm]

I would reuse it.

But I would wash it very good with old tank water.


I have had success doing this over the decades, washing it well is key.

Of course, follow this advice.