Sand bed

Robert Roswell · Mar 2, 2019

I am wanting to change my sand bed to a bigger grain size. My current sandbed is only about .5 inch deep and some places are even bare. Would this cause a tank crash by changing the sand and if not how do i go about doing it.

James M · Mar 2, 2019

No, if you want to be safe remove it while doing water changes

lapin · Mar 2, 2019

I doubt 1/2" of sand has any dead spots that would harbor anything bad. You might stir up some detritus. You could remove 1/2 at a time. This would allow bacteria to colonize the new sand before removing it all.

ZoWhat · Mar 3, 2019

Larger grain size will trap more NO3 and PO4

Just sayin'

Nburg's Reef · Mar 3, 2019

How old is your system, how much live rock do you have and whats your bioload? Your sand bed could harbor a lot of the good bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrates. If you don't have a lot of live rock, I'd go easy on feeding fish/ corals until the new sand populates.

I agree that removing it during a water change is best, but my biggest concern is removing too much of your bacteria population.

Robert Roswell · Mar 3, 2019

Nburg said:
How old is your system, how much live rock do you have and whats your bioload? Your sand bed could harbor a lot of the good bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrates. If you don't have a lot of live rock, I'd go easy on feeding fish/ corals until the new sand populates.

I agree that removing it during a water change is best, but my biggest concern is removing too much of your bacteria population.

My system has been running since October 28th, 2017. I have 40 lbs of live rock and I have 1 clownfish and 1 banggai cardinal.

Sod Buster · Mar 3, 2019

What is your current sand? If it's only a 1/2" deep I'd cover it up w/ coarse. Most of the fine stuff will settle to the bottom and the larger to the top.

Robert Roswell · Mar 3, 2019

Sod Buster said:
What is your current sand? If it's only a 1/2" deep I'd cover it up w/ coarse. Most of the fine stuff will settle to the bottom and the larger to the top.

My current sand is the Carib Sea Ocean Direct.

Sod Buster · Mar 3, 2019

That product comes in oolite, the super fine stuff, or original, which is similar in size to "Fiji pink". If it's the oolite, I'd vacuum a section at a time out and replace. If it's original you can cover it up with something like "west Caribbean reef" grade.

Nburg's Reef · Mar 3, 2019

With that much rock and little bioload, removing the sand shouldn't have an impact on your system. But I agree that adding coarser sand to the already sand is possible. I really like Tropic Eden Mesoflakes. its coarse sand that doesn't move too much, and its pretty well rinsed so it doesn't take much to get to further rinse. I was able to add to an established system without it making the water cloudy after a quick rinse in a bucket. Premium aquatics is the only place I know that sells it online, and it sells out a lot.