Changing Substrate from Gravel to sand.

[Brady4000]

Hey all.

I set up a new tank it’s 3 - 4 weeks old and cycled.

It has a few clowns and coral.

I messed up and put gravel, now I wish I didn’t... I like the look of sand.

question:

If I water change into a plastic tub with a heater and a wave maker. Take everything out. Add live sand to help with the loss of bacteria and put everything back into the tank including the water.

Will this work?

32g Biocube
Alk 9.9
Nitrate 10
Ammonia 0
Calcium 450
PH 8.15
Phosphate 0.5
Magnesium 1380
Temp 79
Salinity 1.026

appreciate the help

 

[Quietman]

Live sand in the bag probably won't make up for the loss and not sure 3-4 weeks is enough for the rocks to have a sufficient cycling time to support immediately. That said, it's probably enough to allow you do what you want if plan on a couple big WC. The bacteria populations would come up quick since it's already cycled. I would just make sure I have plans for the WC if needed.

Alternatively, you could do it in stages...but I'd probably want to do it all at once too since it's early on.

Good luck!

 

[Be102]

Hey all.

I set up a new tank it’s 3 - 4 weeks old and cycled.

It has a few clowns and coral.

I messed up and put gravel, now I wish I didn’t... I like the look of sand.

question:

If I water change into a plastic tub with a heater and a wave maker. Take everything out. Add live sand to help with the loss of bacteria and put everything back into the tank including the water.

Will this work?

32g Biocube
Alk 9.9
Nitrate 10
Ammonia 0
Calcium 450
PH 8.15
Phosphate 0.5
Magnesium 1380
Temp 79
Salinity 1.026

appreciate the help

I think you would be fine if you did that. I put crushed coral down and disliked it as it mixed too much in ( crushed coral took over as the sand stayed below it.)
what I did was take everything out, had backup water on hand scrubbed everything in my tank.. and heres where it gets interesting... I PREWASHED my live sand... Yes you will think I am crazy.. but the live sand was fine after I washed it.. I washed it to get all the silty and dusty material out of it. I then spread the sand down, placed rocks safely back in the tank and filled it all up..


If you want to fall into the rabbithole regarding rinsing sand... there are some great threads on here... I can now do whatever tank management I need to and my sand doesnt turn my tank into a bowl of dust... oh yeah i didnt use those magnet cleaners either!!




Here are some good reads...

Rinse or don't rinse bagged live sand?

I must admit, I have never used this live sand in a bag before. I typically go with the dry sand but couldn't find any in stock in the size I wanted. Should i rinse it or not? Looking at the milky colored liquid inside the bag, I'm thinking that I should rinse it. What would you do? Here's a...

www.reef2reef.com

So I didn't rinse...

So I was on the fence, pressed for time and didn't do what I should have done, rinse the sand. So now I have 3 bags of reef flakes in the tank, water's been cloudy for the last 3 days although it's clearing slowly. I'm now in no other rush, so barring massive water changes, what are the other...

www.reef2reef.com

Sandbed stirred up

Was aquascaping and had a rock fall over and make this sandstorm in the tank.. any way to clear it up quick?

www.reef2reef.com

Very Cloudy Water After Sand and Rock

Hi All, I have a 57 gallon DT and a 20 gallon sump I recently (last 3 days) filled with water, Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand, and Nature's Ocean Natural Coral Aquarium Base Rock. I noticed the rock was a bit dusty and chalky and gave it a few rinses before putting it in the tank, but probably...

www.reef2reef.com

Question About Vacuuming Sand Bed

When I first put in my live sand I did not rinse it like I have read some people do on here. There was a significant amount of dust that clouded up the tank for a couple of days and clouds it up whenever I disturb the sand. I have been using a tank vac to sift through the sand a couple times a...

www.reef2reef.com

also @brandon429 is very informative!


hope this helps... I learned the hard way

 

[Brady4000]

I think you would be fine if you did that. I put crushed coral down and disliked it as it mixed too much in ( crushed coral took over as the sand stayed below it.)
what I did was take everything out, had backup water on hand scrubbed everything in my tank.. and heres where it gets interesting... I PREWASHED my live sand... Yes you will think I am crazy.. but the live sand was fine after I washed it.. I washed it to get all the silty and dusty material out of it. I then spread the sand down, placed rocks safely back in the tank and filled it all up..


If you want to fall into the rabbithole regarding rinsing sand... there are some great threads on here... I can now do whatever tank management I need to and my sand doesnt turn my tank into a bowl of dust... oh yeah i didnt use those magnet cleaners either!!




Here are some good reads...

Rinse or don't rinse bagged live sand?

I must admit, I have never used this live sand in a bag before. I typically go with the dry sand but couldn't find any in stock in the size I wanted. Should i rinse it or not? Looking at the milky colored liquid inside the bag, I'm thinking that I should rinse it. What would you do? Here's a...

www.reef2reef.com

So I didn't rinse...

So I was on the fence, pressed for time and didn't do what I should have done, rinse the sand. So now I have 3 bags of reef flakes in the tank, water's been cloudy for the last 3 days although it's clearing slowly. I'm now in no other rush, so barring massive water changes, what are the other...

www.reef2reef.com

Sandbed stirred up

Was aquascaping and had a rock fall over and make this sandstorm in the tank.. any way to clear it up quick?

www.reef2reef.com

Very Cloudy Water After Sand and Rock

Hi All, I have a 57 gallon DT and a 20 gallon sump I recently (last 3 days) filled with water, Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand, and Nature's Ocean Natural Coral Aquarium Base Rock. I noticed the rock was a bit dusty and chalky and gave it a few rinses before putting it in the tank, but probably...

www.reef2reef.com

Question About Vacuuming Sand Bed

When I first put in my live sand I did not rinse it like I have read some people do on here. There was a significant amount of dust that clouded up the tank for a couple of days and clouds it up whenever I disturb the sand. I have been using a tank vac to sift through the sand a couple times a...

www.reef2reef.com

also @brandon429 is very informative!


hope this helps... I learned the hard way

Thanks for the reply. I have never heard of washing live sand! I’ll definitely read these threads.

 

[Be102]

Thanks for the reply. I have never heard of washing live sand! I’ll definitely read these threads.

Anytime buddy!

Like I said, I didn't know about it either... then reef2reef taught me everything!


you might even come across my pictures I posted when I did the rinsing and swap!

Good luck!