Deep sand bed removal

[Mjrenz]

I'm getting ready to upgrade my tank and I need to move my existing tank out of the way to build a stand for the new one. I'm also currently in a fallow period which I can't officially start until I remove my deep sand bed in my refugium. My question is how can I safely remove the sand bed without killing my corals and inverts? It's been in for about a year and has been quite effective as my nitrates are always nearly undetectable. The current inhabitants include hermits, urchins, snails, a maxima clam, a seabae anemone, and various corals (soft, lps, and sps). My plan is to get the new tank cycled and move everything over as soon as it's stable, then take down the old tank.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Ah, @Flippers4pups just went through this and can probably give some tips.

 

[OREGONIC]

I would think you could shut off flow to the sump remove that sand bed and all the water in the sump. Then refill the sump with new saltwater and resume flow between the two. Im no expert tho so take my thought with a grain of salt.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

I'm sorry, I missed the refugium part in the post.

 

[Mjrenz]

I would think you could shut off flow to the sump remove that sand bed and all the water in the sump. Then refill the sump with new saltwater and resume flow between the two. Im no expert tho so take my thought with a grain of salt.

That actually sounds like a really good idea, I can't believe that it never occurred to me to do that. It would be completly isolated from the rest of the tank

 

[Mjrenz]

I'm sorry, I missed the refugium part in the post.

It was a little long winded

 

[Mjrenz]

I would think you could shut off flow to the sump remove that sand bed and all the water in the sump. Then refill the sump with new saltwater and resume flow between the two. Im no expert tho so take my thought with a grain of salt.

Usually the simple solutions are the first things I think of, I'll go ahead and admit how stupid I feel right now because I pondered this for a couple weeks before posting this;Facepalm

 

[Flippers4pups]

I would think you could shut off flow to the sump remove that sand bed and all the water in the sump. Then refill the sump with new saltwater and resume flow between the two. Im no expert tho so take my thought with a grain of salt.

That would work.

 

[Mjrenz]

My deep sand bed is now in a bucket

 

[JoshH]

My deep sand bed is now in a bucket

Very efficient, I like it. Are you going to rinse and reuse it in your new build?

 

[Mjrenz]

Very efficient, I like it. Are you going to rinse and reuse it in your new build?

That's what I'm planning on doing, that sand has already been recycled once so why not again?

 

[JoshH]

That's what I'm planning on doing, that sand has already been recycled once so why not again?

I agree, I had never though of using a DSB in a sump before although I think I've seen it before. Do you enjoy the benefits of it overall???

 

[Mjrenz]

I agree, I had never though of using a DSB in a sump before although I think I've seen it before. Do you enjoy the benefits of it overall???

I really do, as soon as the anaerobic bacteria was established my nitrates were consistently low no matter how much I fed. For phosphates all I've been doing is dosing a little phosphate rx when they start to creep up and the skimmer has the water cleared up within a couple hours