Wanting to switch to sand

[Jhull9200]

I have a established 150 gallon reef tank with fish I used live rock/gravel for the bed and would like to change over to sand.
My idea is to move everything to another tank remove the gravel add clean sand then move everything back in a few hours later.
Is it as simple as that?

 

[Jhull9200]

Subscribing

 

[Reincarnate]

Just siphon out the gravel over the course of a few weeks or so. Once it's gone go ahead and add the sand. There's really no need to remove everything for this.

 

[accordexi]

I agree with the above person.

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[thegrun]

Either method will work, but siphoning out 1/4 of the sand at a time on a weekly interval will be the least stressful on your livestock. Either way be sure to use dry sand washed well to remove the fines (dust).

 

[chubble]

Would this be the same method for switching from live white sand to black live sand?


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[Tisbe]

Chubbie, yes but I would recommend dry sand that you rise heavily before you put it in. The sand will become love and this prevents all the fine silt getting into you tank.

 

[Sk8r]

To get the sand to go to the bottom and not float: get a section of 2 to 3" pvc that will reach the bottom, get a funnel and put it atop. Drop your new sand through that, so it will not settle all over the tank. Don't worry about a sandpile: your fish will redistribute it.

 

[chubble]

Just curious why not live sand? Why use dry sand


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[Tisbe]

You can't rinse live sand so you end up with more silt in the tank. By rinsing it you just kill anything that was alive. You also pay more for live sand and the bacteria in your tank will make any sand "live" in time. The "live" in rock or sand just refers to it having bacteria in it. There is a lot of different thoughts on how much bacteria actually stays alive with the "live" sand. I will say, you will be amazed at how much silt will come off one bag of sand and be very glad you rinsed it before you put it in you DT.

 

[Tisbe]

Here is a post from someone who forgot to rinse their sand. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24829501

If it helps I did it to my first tank also.:headwally:

 

[Diana A]

Just curious why not live sand? Why use dry sand


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the live sand that is sold in bags, is just sand with some live nifrifying bacteria added to the sand. You can do that yourself if you like with Bio-Spira, Dr Tim's or Bio-S.