Removing sand in an estsblished tank

[GHOSTLY]

So I want to remove almost all the sand excluding maybe a mm of it below the rock. The tank is 13.5g. How could I go about removing all the sand without removing the rock? Also how should I take out the sand? I don't want to throw off my chemistry as I've already stabilized my tank

 

[BeltedCoyote]

Removing your sand will do a fine job of upsetting the balance if you do it all at once.

a little at a time is the name of the dame.

 

[GHOSTLY]

Removing your sand will do a fine job of upsetting the balance if you do it all at once.

a little at a time is the name of the dame.

Quick response first of all and secondly how much each time and how? With each water changes or a tiny bit a day?

 

[shakacuz]

i would say a cup sized amount per WC should be okay. do you test water before or after a WC?

 

[dwest]

I took my sand out when fighting dino. I sucked a little out when I did water changes. It took about 3 months to get it all. Agree slow is best here.

 

[CryptoNautical]

For a 13.5gal I'd probably even do a half cup. It depends on the age of the sand and how much stuff has been packed in there

 

[BeltedCoyote]

Sorry OP. Was at work. I’d refer to the post above this one with regards to the amount you remove at a time.

just remember to take it slow and keep an eye on your parameters as you go.

 

[gbroadbridge]

So I want to remove almost all the sand excluding maybe a mm of it below the rock. The tank is 13.5g. How could I go about removing all the sand without removing the rock? Also how should I take out the sand? I don't want to throw off my chemistry as I've already stabilized my tank

Slowly, like maybe take out 1/4 of the sand a week for 4 weeks.

I did that when I had a problem with Dino.

i then washed it well in tap water with bleach let it sun dry and added back all in one go

 

[GHOSTLY]

Slowly, like maybe take out 1/4 of the sand a week for 4 weeks.

I did that when I had a problem with Dino.

i then washed it well in tap water with bleach let it sun dry and added back all in one go

I don't plan to add it back. Assuming I have a total sand volume 216 inches³ should I remove ¼ of that each week? Also how would I remove it? What tools?

 

[TCoach]

So I want to remove almost all the sand excluding maybe a mm of it below the rock. The tank is 13.5g. How could I go about removing all the sand without removing the rock? Also how should I take out the sand? I don't want to throw off my chemistry as I've already stabilized my tank

Can you explain why you want to do this?

How old is your tank? The longer it has been running, the more risk there is in doing this.

 

[GHOSTLY]

Can you explain why you want to do this?

How old is your tank? The longer it has been running, the more risk there is in doing this.

11 months and Im doing this so I can increase my flow and get into SPS So i can keep them on the floors too. Plan to sell most of my softies, lps, and misc coral and get into High flow high light SPS and LPS. I will keep my hammers, plates, and a select few zoas

 

[TCoach]

11 months and Im doing this so I can increase my flow and get into SPS So i can keep them on the floors too. Plan to sell most of my softies, lps, and misc coral and get into High flow high light SPS and LPS. I will keep my hammers, plates, and a select few zoas

I would just use the rip clean methodology. Especially how small the tank is. That is how I moved my 92 corner. I tossed the sand it came with and put new sand in. It will most likely give you the best chance at success and pretty much eliminate the chance of a nutrient crash from stirring the sand.

@brandon429 is the master of this.

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[GHOSTLY]

I would just use the rip clean methodology. Especially how small the tank is. That is how I loved my 92 corner. I tossed the sand it came with and put new sand in. It will most likely give you the best chance at success and pretty much eliminate the chance of a nutrient crash from stirring the sand.

@brandon429 is the master of this.

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...

www.reef2reef.com

I read it but I can't keep everything in another tank while I change it out. I'm actually worried now since I was going to take a tiny bit out each week. Let me get more info on this

 

[TCoach]

I read it but I can't keep everything in another tank while I change it out. I'm actually worried now since I was going to take a tiny bit out each week. Let me get more info on this

Just use a couple 5 gallon buckets. You can probably do a full clean on your tank in 2-4 hours max. Especially since you don’t want the substrate!

 

[GHOSTLY]

Just use a couple 5 gallon buckets. You can probably do a full clean on your tank in 2-4 hours max. Especially since you don’t want the substrate!

Full xlean? Not sure what you mean

 

[GHOSTLY]

I want the sand gone so I'll change it out over the span of a couple months hopefully. I'll only be keeping very small amount

 

[gbroadbridge]

I don't plan to add it back. Assuming I have a total sand volume 216 inches³ should I remove ¼ of that each week? Also how would I remove it? What tools?

I just vacuumed it out with each water change.

216 cubic inches is a lot of sand for a 13 gal tank.

are you sure that is correct?

if it is correct you probably should go slower, maybe over 6-8 weeks


Alternatly, and this is probably a better option, just do a rip clean.

Stick the fish and rocks and coral in a bucket, rip everything out and rely on the bac on the rocks to do their job.

that will give a full tank reset which works all the time.

do a search for rip clean

 

[aSaltyKlown]

I was looking at your build thread. I'd take two 5 gallon buckets, fill them with tank water and put rocks in them. Maybe use a large tupperware container for some of the frags. They will be fine for a few hours. Once the rock is out, shouldn't take long to remove the sand. I know that you want to avoid removing the rocks, but it is the best way especially in such a small tank.

 

[gbroadbridge]

11 months and Im doing this so I can increase my flow and get into SPS So i can keep them on the floors too. Plan to sell most of my softies, lps, and misc coral and get into High flow high light SPS and LPS. I will keep my hammers, plates, and a select few zoas

Please don't try this.

A 13 gal tank will never be stable enough to host SPS coral on a longterm basis. Yes we all see youtube videos saying how it has happened for some, but where is that tank in 5 years?

you will have a room full of equipment attempting to maintain stability in a 2 foot long tank. It is just not worth it.

If you want a tank with SPS, aim for at least 120g with a lot of bucks on supporting it.

Regards

 

[GHOSTLY]

Please don't try this.

A 13 gal tank will never be stable enough to host SPS coral on a longterm basis. Yes we all see youtube videos saying how it has happened for some, but where is that tank in 5 years?

you will have a room full of equipment attempting to maintain stability in a 2 foot long tank. It is just not worth it.

If you want a tank with SPS, aim for at least 120g with a lot of bucks on supporting it.

Regards

Thats the point! I'm a gear junky. It won't be longterm, only until the tank crashes eventually. I want a challenge and I feel it will be possible as long as I have an ato, auto doser, and my fine adjustment tools. All I need is the first two.