So I want to go Barebottom...

[Dilan Patel]

Hey guys so I decided the sand look just doesn't work in my 180 gallon reef. It is fully stocked with frags and fish. All the sand did was become bare in the center and pile everywhere else. I am just done with the sand look. This is a minimum two year old tank. I am really scared about crashing this tank while attempting to remove the sand. I would like some advice on how I should go about this project. I do have oxidized zones in the way back for when the sand piled for months. The roicks are sitting on the acrylic. My plan was to take a cup or two out every day or everyother day. Run carbon to take out any chemical issues that may occur. What am I losing other than beneficial bacteria if I remove the sand bed? Is this a good Idea or should I just leave it?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hey guys so I decided the sand look just doesn't work in my 180 gallon reef. It is fully stocked with frags and fish. All the sand did was become bare in the center and pile everywhere else. I am just done with the sand look. This is a minimum two year old tank. I am really scared about crashing this tank while attempting to remove the sand. I would like some advice on how I should go about this project. I do have oxidized zones in the way back for when the sand piled for months. The roicks are sitting on the acrylic. My plan was to take a cup or two out every day or everyother day. Run carbon to take out any chemical issues that may occur. What am I losing other than beneficial bacteria if I remove the sand bed? Is this a good Idea or should I just leave it?

It may take time, but this is something you'll want to do slowly. Your best bet is when you do a water change siphon a little sand out each time. That way you slowly make the transition and you dont shock the bioload from removing to much to fast

 

[Dilan Patel]

I don't do waterchanges lol so thats why I was just gunna take 1-2 cups out everyday/.otherday depending on how it goes

 

[john90009]

i would do water changes, and siphon out alittle at a time. Makesure where your siphon goes, it sucks up whats underneath since it has never been touched and you dont do water changes. If you pull out cups at a time and dislodge bubbles and the the gunk underneath floats in the water, it will add to much nutrients. Mind as well replace the bad stuff with good water atleast.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I don't do waterchanges lol so thats why I was just gunna take 1-2 cups out everyday/.otherday depending on how it goes

I would do water changes. When you scoop up that sand you're going to kick alot of trapped detritus into the water and you may experience nutrient spikes.

 

[Dilan Patel]

ok so i will do waterchanges but how much is cometely safe? i know this is hard to answer but would 2.5 gallons be too much or too little?

 

[john90009]

on a 75 gallon tank i used to do 12 gallon water changes. there is no exact perfect answer. Its just what i was able to do with my 2 jugs and i kept it consistent. i always vacumed my sand bend so no dead zones would happen and my sand wouldn't turn into cement. But to be super safe just keep what ever your siphoning up make sure the water runs clear before picking it up and moving to a new spot. Sure there will be minor nutrients seeping out from around the area, but i am sure you will see far more benefits to adding fresh saltwater.....

 

[Crabs McJones]

ok so i will do waterchanges but how much is cometely safe? i know this is hard to answer but would 2.5 gallons be too much or too little?

On a 180 that should be ok

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

I would leave the sand alone and make it a really thin sand bed about a half inch, but if you do take a cup ever other day from each side of the tank, with that said going Bare bottom your going to need a lot more flow to keep detritus off the bottom so your going to have to keep up on water changes and maintenance a little more

 

[madweazl]

I moved about six weeks ago and took all the sand out of my tank (120lb from a 75g), tossed it in two 5g buckets, let it sit for 3.5 days, tossed it back in the tank after setting it up at the new house, and had no issues what so ever. Phosphates came up about .02 and some nitrates were present (barely measurable typically). My opinion, most people big deal this way too much and few have actually done it.

 

[Dilan Patel]

i have flow covered. nutrients are not an issue. i have to feed at least 5 times a day just to keep 5ppm of nitrates. the flow is my issue with the sand it just blows around. I think i will start with 2.5 gallon waterchanges everyday for a week and see how it goes. i did just get new corals so should I wait a week to let these corals acclimate or should they be fine?

 

[john90009]

There is no right answer to anything with this hobby, some cases react different than others, its all a test and see how it goes kinda thing lol . I dont think 2.5 gallons on a 180 will be stressful at all to the new coral

 

[Dom]

I don't do waterchanges lol so thats why I was just gunna take 1-2 cups out everyday/.otherday depending on how it goes

I like this approach best. Just like everything else in this hobby, I think making this change should be done slowly too.

IMO, I'd remove 1 or 2 cups per day and then a water change at the end to vacuum the remaining sand.

I wonder if you will ever get ALL the sand.

 

[madweazl]

I like this approach best. Just like everything else in this hobby, I think making this change should be done slowly too.

IMO, I'd remove 1 or 2 cups per day and then a water change at the end to vacuum the remaining sand.

I wonder if you will ever get ALL the sand.

1-2 cups daily from 180g?

 

[Dom]

Yep...

My concern is that if you remove it all at one time, or, if you remove it in large quantities, you may cause an ammonia spike.

I believe that by removing the sand, you will also be removing all of the nitrifying bacteria that the sand is home to. The remaining nitrifying bacteria in live rock may not be enough to handle the bio load, causing an ammonia spike.

I guess it would be like going through a tank cycle again.

 

[Dilan Patel]

Yep...

My concern is that if you remove it all at one time, or, if you remove it in large quantities, you may cause an ammonia spike.

I believe that by removing the sand, you will also be removing all of the nitrifying bacteria that the sand is home to. The remaining nitrifying bacteria in live rock may not be enough to handle the bio load, causing an ammonia spike.

I guess it would be like going through a tank cycle again.

That was my worry. I don't plan to get all the sand out just whatever is in front of my rockscape/easy to get to. IDK if I should do the cup idea or the waterchange. I believe they will take out the same amount of sand or around the same amount. Just one will take out some water and replace it with new which wouldn't hurt I need to get my SG up a little anyways lol.

 

[madweazl]

Again, I took 120lbs of sand from a 75g tank, let it sit in two, five gallon buckets, for over three days, and didnt have any ammonia or nitrites. 1-2 cups is ludicrous. And I threw it back in the tank!

 

[Dilan Patel]

I get what your saying but I think it is always better to be safe than sorry and taking it slow is the best option as my tank is now finally at full capacity and I would like to keep it that way.

 

[Dilan Patel]

So I just did my first water change ever on this tank since its been set up. I took 5 gallons out with whatever sand was picked up.

 

[DSC reef]

Again, I took 120lbs of sand from a 75g tank, let it sit in two, five gallon buckets, for over three days, and didnt have any ammonia or nitrites. 1-2 cups is ludicrous. And I threw it back in the tank!

You 75 gallon is not a 180 gallon. And your assuming your bioload and his are the same? Why not be safe than sorry. Just because you did it successfully doesn't mean everybody can or should do the same. Way to many variables. To the OP, go slow with this please.