Anyone removed sandbed?

[phil bevilacqua]

Anyone removed sandbed without taking out the scape? It’s about 2-3” thick
I know a little at a time but wondering if it’s going to collapse the scape as it settles?
Is it going to release crap into water?
Anyone done it with success ! Thanks

 

[James M]

Best thing to do is siphon the sand out with water changes

 

[JumboShrimp]

Even removing the 2-3" sand bed "a little at a time," a logical assumption is that it "will" start to collapse your aquascape-- but I suppose it is highly variable, depending on whether you just have a few large rocks, versus an intricate (and interconnected) bit of rock-stacking going on. I guess 'where there is a will, there is a way'... just look at house movers... they try to lift the whole house without breaking a window.

 

[Rakie]

Even removing the 2-3" sand bed "a little at a time," a logical assumption is that it "will" start to collapse your aquascape

You're right! That's why you're not supposed to put the rocks on the sand. A lot of new people don't realize this.

You're supposed to put rocks directly on glass and fill sand around it -- Reference for anybody who happens to need this knowledge.

 

[Ben little79]

I made this to remove mine .. Once acweek i removed sections.. It took 5 weeks roughly.. I placed a 5 gal bucket in a trash can.. Put house from siphon in bucket .. Once bucket overflows sand stayed in bucket .. Water overflows bicket and goes in trash can.. I removed two 5 gal buckets worth when said and done .. No3 dropped every removal.. That sand was 5 years in tank.. It was disgusting..

 

[Coralreefer1]

You need to be careful with hydrogen sulfide being released into your water that will kill everything.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Anyone removed sandbed without taking out the scape? It’s about 2-3” thick
I know a little at a time but wondering if it’s going to collapse the scape as it settles?
Is it going to release crap into water?
Anyone done it with success ! Thanks

Hello, almost forgot to say that.

What size tank and how long has it been running?
I pulled 10 year old gravel from my 180 all at once in1 day and had no problems. It just how you do it. Definitely heed jumbo shrimp. Pulling sand can mess with the base of the scape

What I did. Made at least enough water for 50% water change. Took a 3/4 in hose , started a siphon and buried it into the gravel. Then vacuumed it out 5 gallons at a time. Just don’t stir the hose, move it slowly as the bottom start to show. When I got near rock I gently lifted it to a section of clean tank to be sure nothing collapsed. Don’t drain more water than you have on hand.

I had no issues. Sulfide is an issue but usually needs to be a deep sand bed well established. As long as you are leaving the rock pulling the sand bed won’t hurt anything.

10 years of gravel pulled in 1 day

 

[phil bevilacqua]

My sand is about 3-4 years old from original fish tank and then when I went reef I dumped about 30 pounds of live sand on top I was hoping one of you guys had an amazing idea of how to let the scape drop down all at the same time so that it didn’t crumble Hahahaaa. I’ve been doing the 5 gal bucket trash can thing. It keeps getting clogged but it’s a work in progress I’ll probably just get it down really thin and see how it all settles