Sandbed Help

[Outlaw1322]

I have a 240 gallon, 8ft reef tank, January made 2 years it's been up and running. I had no prior experience as of then. I reused the sand that was in the tank when I bought it without much thought and now I regret it. I would like to change and smaller, whiter sand. Does anyone think this is possible to do in an up and running tank?! I appreciate any comments. Thanks. # firstpostever.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to posting, I would say yes by using a sand vacuum and removing the sand with water changes and add the new sand back slow. It going to take some time. The othe way is to tare down the tank and save the water the add the sand and replace everything and fill the tank back up. The last process would have to be well times or you could use me of these to store everything with a couple of power heads and some filteration.

 

[CodyRVA]

Just vacuum the current sand out bare bottom; then slowly add however much of the new sand into the tank. You can always add a bottle of bacteria as you will likely lose some in the process, but sand holds a small fraction compared to your rock/media. If you aren't already, I would run a filter sock or two when you add the new sand to help the water clear up faster. No way would I tear down the tank to change sand.

 

[Outlaw1322]

I'm only home 1 week per month so that's when I do water changes. I was considering siphoning the sand out over four months. 1/4th at a time. Then adding it back slowly. [emoji848]

 

[Outlaw1322]

I do run a pad of filter floss between two baffles in the sump. I'm not set up for socks tho.

 

[CodyRVA]

I'm only home 1 week per month so that's when I do water changes. I was considering siphoning the sand out over four months. 1/4th at a time. Then adding it back slowly. [emoji848]

I would do it in one fail swoop, i don't see the risk in doing it all at once; just a pain in the butt...

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I would leave about 2 cups of old sand in at the last removal, then put the new sand on top of that to seed the new Sandbed going in. You're on the right track. Slow and steady will give you great results.

 

[CodyRVA]

I would leave about 2 cups of old sand in at the last removal, then put the new sand on top of that to seed the new Sandbed going in. You're on the right track. Slow and steady will give you great results.

What are you seeding? Assuming you buy bagged live sand, its good to go...? If you remove all the sand from your system and you have issues, you either have a very deep sand bed or very little rock.

 

[Outlaw1322]

There's actually a wall of live rock. I would never get aaaall the sand out. Was just thinking about doing what I could see/reach up front.

 

[Outlaw1322]

Better angle of the portion I am considering removing.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Just a recomendation I offered. I started with crushed argonite so i seeded with some live sand I had from another system.

 

[CodyRVA]

Better angle of the portion I am considering removing.

I'd just siphon it out. You'd be surprised how much of it you'll pick up. If anything, my main concern would be to make sure your rock work is stable, once the sand is pulled out from around the base; insuring it doesn't fall. I just moved my tank 4 hours to a new location, left the sand in buckets with no air or temp control. Knowing the sand was likely dead, i just added it back in, added some bacteria and that was that. So, if you're adding live bagged sand... shouldn't be an issue. If you do leave it bare bottom for any period of time, consider any livestock you have that depends on the sand bed before doing so (gobies, wrasses, inverts, etc).

 

[Outlaw1322]

My main concern was any sort of cycle or shock to the system while undertaking what I would think is a big project such as this.

 

[CodyRVA]

My main concern was any sort of cycle or shock to the system while undertaking what I would think is a big project such as this.

If you supplement a bottle of bacteria you shouldn't have any issue. It's not like you're replacing a major section of your aquascape.

 

[Outlaw1322]

Thanks everyone. I feel a liiiittle better. Haha

 

[CodyRVA]

Thanks everyone. I feel a liiiittle better. Haha

When in doubt...

 

[Outlaw1322]

When in doubt...

Hahaaaaa! Yes

 

[Zee]

So guys basically as I understand from this article that we should use a new sand when we upgrade! I'm going to upgrade very soon so I should start with fresh live sand right?

 

[CodyRVA]

So guys basically as I understand from this article that we should use a new sand when we upgrade! I'm going to upgrade very soon so I should start with fresh live sand right?

Don't have to, but you can.