Need advice to switch from BB to sand bed

[bucfan]

I have a 100G BB tank that's been running over a year. I want to change from the BB to a sand bed. Just prefer the sand look and want to get some fish that need sand. I also want to change the rock scape. My tank is stocked with corals so not sure how I'd go about doing it? Is it even possible to achieve this switch?

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

when i bought a 150 cube i needed to replace the sand. i had the tank set up as bb for a week till i could get the sand. when adding it i would grab a pvc pipe have the sand slide down the pipe to the bottom. that will keep it from getting becoming huge sandstorm inside your tank and p'ing off any coral or fish.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Get a big piece of PVC, 1-2" would be best. Drop the sand down the pipe to your desired location. Or drop a bunch in spots and then move it about the tank where needed. Your going to cloud up a bit, no way around that, you just want to make it as slight as possible.

 

[bucfan]

Will the addition of sand mess up my corals? Just did not know of I could add it without any consequence. Or will it set off a new cycle?

 

[Reefing Madness]

No, shouldn't cycle anything. Its not gonna decay and create ammonia issues.

 

[grozier]

just a bit of advice, but don't mess with sugar fine sand. I have it in my tank and you can't have any flow in the lower half of the tank without it blowing everywhere. I'm in the process of removing mine little by little. Find a bigger grained sand since you need good flow with corals.

 

[grozier]

also you might go through a diatom outbreak for the first few weeks, but it should go away.

 

[Engineeringman27]

How did it go? Did you add the sand? Thinking of adding to my 220, but was worried it would cause a new cycle. Let me know! Thanks!

 

[Rob.D]

I recently added sand to my tank after running it for 7 months as a BB, I cut off all the flow while adding the sand. I used Tropic Eden reef flakes, it's a super clean sand out of the bag but I rinsed it in RO; after a few days diatoms developed and are still present but not bad, the diatoms have the sand bed just slightly brown. I have't noticed any negative effects since the addition of the sand.

 

[Engineeringman27]

Thanks Rob! Was it live sand? Does it have to be live sand?

 

[bucfan]

How did it go? Did you add the sand? Thinking of adding to my 220, but was worried it would cause a new cycle. Let me know! Thanks!

No I did not. However I am upgrading to a 200G in the next month and I am going with sand.

 

[Rob.D]

Thanks Rob! Was it live sand? Does it have to be live sand?

I used the standard dry sand. Since your tank is already cycled there is no reason to use "live sand"