tank transfer

[trinity1012]

i currently have a acrylic 150g,been set up since march,sps dominant,all mostly frags still.i am moving to a 150 glass,my question is can i use new sand in place of the sand i have now with out damaging my corals? or causing other types of chaos?right now i only have about 90lbs. i have 120lbs new sand.

i have never syphoned my sandbed so im sure it will b black or close to when i transfer everything.

 

[Reefin' Dude]

why have sand at all if the tank is suppose to be oligotrophic? do you plan on replacing the sand every few years?

if you feel you must have sand, either for looks or because there is an organism that needs it, i would suggest replacing the sand whenever a tank is moved. that way you are guaranteed that the sand is consistent in its phosphate content. whenever you are dealing with used sand, you are guaranteed to be dealing with some layers of the sand being full of phosphates. that is what calcium carbonate does very well. bind phosphates. new sand is like putting in a new oil filter in your car. a fresh place for all of the phosphates to build up in.

G~

 

[trinity1012]

well said thank you,i must say this is my 3rd reef tank and i have always used sand in them,i never really thought about bare bottom before. now you got me thinkin!