Advice For Changing Substrate

[Renzo'sReef]

I purchased a 90 gallon reef tank from craigslist a couple weeks ago that was still up and running. It came with some larger gravel substrate that I am not very fond of keeping and would like to switch to some fiji pink live sand. What are the main problems I would be running in too? Tank also has lots of live rock that will stay just may be re-arranged a little. There are still fish one shrimp and ricordea mushrooms in the tank.

 

[maleks.reef]

I purchased a 90 gallon reef tank from craigslist a couple weeks ago that was still up and running. It came with some larger gravel substrate that I am not very fond of keeping and would like to switch to some fiji pink live sand. What are the main problems I would be running in too? Tank also has lots of live rock that will stay just may be re-arranged a little. There are still fish one shrimp and ricordea mushrooms in the tank.

Youre replacing the sand with live sand + you have all the rocks that are already populated with bacteria. You wont run into any issues other than cloudy water for a day or two (i suggest carbon).

 

[sfin52]

I purchased a 90 gallon reef tank from craigslist a couple weeks ago that was still up and running. It came with some larger gravel substrate that I am not very fond of keeping and would like to switch to some fiji pink live sand. What are the main problems I would be running in too? Tank also has lots of live rock that will stay just may be re-arranged a little. There are still fish one shrimp and ricordea mushrooms in the tank.

Nothing with a move better to rinse or change sand anyway. Lots of detritus could be released with the existing sand if not well rinsed or starting with new sand

 

[blaxsun]

Get a tub, fill with saltwater and place all your rocks, corals, etc. in there. Add a heater and small wavemaker. Then remove all the substrate (keep filtration going) and probably do a 10% water change after. Suck up as much of the gunk as you can. Add the new substrate. Let it filter for a few hours. Return everything to tank.

 

[sfin52]

Youre replacing the sand with live sand + you have all the rocks that are already populated with bacteria. You wont run into any issues other than cloudy water for a day or two (i suggest carbon).

Agree a smaller micron sock would help like a 10-20 micron sock

 

[Miami Reef]

Get a tub, fill with saltwater and place all your rocks, corals, etc. in there. Add a heater and small wavemaker. Then remove all the substrate (keep filtration going) and probably do a 10% water change after. Suck up as much of the gunk as you can. Add the new substrate. Let it filter for a few hours. Return everything to tank.

This is my method of choice as well.

 

[Renzo'sReef]

Today I did the substrate change and I must say I am much more pleased with the sand look over the gravel look. Followed your guys method of using a tub and filling with SW to put my live rock and fish into. Worked out flawlessly! I also have a bag of carbon down in the sump doing some work on cleaning up the water.