Want to replace my sand

[mmotown]

My sand in my 150 is 3yrs and some change. Wanted to start replacing it with new sand and wanted to know how should I do it and what sand should I do it with? Also I can't touch the sand behind my rock work so I guess I'll be replacing what's upfront and exposed.

 

[o.c.d.]

Is the sand bed causing problems? Mine is over seven years old and thats the last thing on my mind. Just wondering why? And as for procedure I'd put a bucket in a large plastic garbage can and siphon the sand into the bucket and let the water overflow leaving the sand in the bucket

 

[mmotown]

My sand bed is about 2-3" deep. Wanted to change out and recharge it. Don't know if it's causing me problems but Macko here on RC changes his out and his tank is beautiful so I figured it couldn't hurt me!!!!

 

[o.c.d.]

This image is my seven year old SB and I have fish that find alot of food there, It take time to establish so I'm not trying to change your mind just give a different perspective. My SB started to look crappy after awhile then I boosted my flow and it's
white enough for me. To me changing sand is only necessary when hydrogen sulfide starts to appear ( black spots)

 

[mmotown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11700490#post11700490 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by o.c.d.
This image is my seven year old SB and I have fish that find alot of food there, It take time to establish so I'm not trying to change your mind just give a different perspective. My SB started to look crappy after awhile then I boosted my flow and it's
white enough for me. To me changing sand is only necessary when hydrogen sulfide starts to appear ( black spots)

Black what?????

 

[o.c.d.]

Basically if your substrate goes rotten it will produce hydrogen sulfide (poison) then if you or fish ect.. disturb the substrate the hydrogen is released thus killing or stressing animals. So if you observe the lower layers of the substrate turning black or black spots even graying is an indication of hydrogen sulfide being produced. If you do witness this start with boosting flow in the lower areas of the tank this will force the dissolved oxygen into the sand bed, which help if not fixes the problem.
You may see spots in the pic above but that is algae, my tank receives some natural sunlight which causes growth on the front lower glass. One more thing along with black spots gas bubbles may be visible.

 

[OnoIgotICH]

One scoop a day

 

[mmotown]

I do have a black spot or two. Not much. Can't add more flow to my sand bed. I already have alot of flow in my tank. What would happen in a took some of the sand out and placed some new sand on top?

 

[moo0o]

id remove and replace it very slowly.