Removing sand.....

[twintrades]

Ive decided im going to take my rock work all out and find my dang pistol shrimp. And re doing my rock work. But while im reaquascaping Im really thinking about taking my sand out..... Im only 2 inches deep but some areas are around 4 ( i have a TT cuke) So here are my Q's

1 could i remove the sand all at once ?

2 Will i be able to keep my TT cuke ?

3 Will it affect my corals ?

4 will It affect my bio filtration?

5 After its gone will i be wanting to put it back in ?

6 How much will it affect the flow in the tank ?

Hope some one has done this before and will help me !

 

[cymaster007]

how old is the sand bed? Disturbing the sand bed after it has been in place a long time may cause a mini cycle in your tank. This would affect the coral, bio filtration, and cucumber.

 

[Paul C.]

I've been taking some out at every water change. Wont harm the cycle that way.

 

[twintrades]

Tank is about 3 1/2 yrs old. And i was thinking i might remove about a 8X8 square each time i do a water change.

Or the other option is when i take all the rock work out to find my Shrimp. I could remove all the sand and do a 50% waterchange..... I could take coral and fish and put in my sump while i suck the sand out. Im thinking if i work at it kinda slow and try not to stir anything up as i go i should be sucking the ammonia if any out with it ? Or mabey im just Crazy lol.

What would you guys/girls do?

 

[FaviaFreak]

add back some live nitriifying bacteria after you remove sand with each water change

 

[twintrades]

I dont really trust that the bacteria is the right ones. Or that there still alive. Idk

 

[twintrades]

bump

 

[FaviaFreak]

Dr. Tim's one and only is good stuff

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I would just remove the sand a little at a time with each water change. This won't be as big of shock to the system.