Switching from a 90gal to a 160. The 90 has been set up for over 2 years. Switching all corals, fish and live rock. Not sure about the sand. If I use the old sand, I might have a cycle. If I use new sand, I might have a algae bloom and cycle. If I use new sand and live nitrifying bacteria like Dr. Tim's, and my live rock, would my biological system continue to stay stable? Not sure what to do.
Upgrading in size, use old sand?
- Thread starter stevem650
- Start date
Knighthawk
New member
I went with new dry sand and rinsed it very well. If all goes well it shouldn't have an impact on the tank. The sand I got was special grade aragonite if you were curious.
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Kevin Guthrie
Member
Stir up some of the existing sand and if it is full of detritus, dump it. The rock alone is more than enough to inoculate everything without cycling.
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
Upgrading in size, use old sand?
I've been carrying around the same sand for 15 years using it in tank after tank... I would save a cup or two from the current tank as live sand and rinse the rest out with the garden hose before transferring it to the new setup.
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I've been carrying around the same sand for 15 years using it in tank after tank... I would save a cup or two from the current tank as live sand and rinse the rest out with the garden hose before transferring it to the new setup.
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I always use as much of the old sand as possible. Doing an upgrade this month and planning to use as much as I can. Typically I drain the tank down to 3-4 inches, with all rock and livestock removed, stir up the sand and then remove it with a sieve. Most of the shmutz falls out, but the 'liveness' remains. Old sand goes in as the bottom layer, with new, obsessively wished dry sand as the top layer. Never had a cycle doing it this way.
Bma1972
New member
I did the same in October. I used the top 2 inches of sand to transfer from a 90 gal to a 220. All the rock as well. I added new sand that I already had cycling for 3 weeks and mixed it in over 5 days. I had no cycle. However the rocks and sand grim old tank only had a 30 minute out of tank exposure tops.
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ReefMaster48
New member
I would clean the sand very well, and save what you can. Then add dry sand to fill up the rest. Just remember to rinse the dry sand! I didn't once, and there was a nice powder of dust covering the bottom for days; not to mention that the water will cloud for at least a day.
dieselkeeper
New member
I too always use new sand when upgrading. The time and money you spend on water rinsing isn't worth it to me. Good luck with the new build.
BTW, one thing to consider. I reuse old sand because I do not have phosphate issues and because I want to preserve as much of the sand-bed fauna as possible. Agree that sand from a tank with chronic phosphate issue is best discarded. Also, if you are an obsessive sand siphoner, there's probably very little in the way of fauna to preserve.
Bma1972
New member
I agree day... 2 of my tanks change. Used 50 gallons old water 160 new water and 150 lbs old live rock and maybe 50lbs dry rock. Everything stayed steady. Almost 1 year ago to the date.
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on the spot
Active member
2 year old sand I'd likely re-use.
new or old sand I'd take the opportunity to clean it well. rinse out the shmutz and whatnot.
new or old sand I'd take the opportunity to clean it well. rinse out the shmutz and whatnot.
Bma1972
New member
Bma1972
New member
Day 5 and 6 mos and day 2 old sand old rock.Picture day 2
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outy
New member
That's not true or good advise.
I have reused old sand many times over the last 25 years and never have issue.
The main thing I find is that most DSB have a life cycle before they stop doing their job and collect to much detritus and or turns to solid rock. I get about 7 years out of a sand bed before it needs cleaned.
I get about 7-8 years max new sand or old, makes no difference.
removing my the top layers of sand this weekend in a 215 to clean. After the top 3" is cleaned with fresh water its reused and then mixed with the bottom 3-4" and it will be good for another cycle.
