Taking out sand and replacing it

[marvelousone]

So what is the best way to remove the sand bed. Tank has been up for 5 years. I have a large siphon hose but it will not suck the sand out. If I use a cup then a cloud of yuck floats. How does everyone get it out. Then once it is all out how to I put new sand back in without affecting the fish and coral.

 

[CC13]

So what is the best way to remove the sand bed. Tank has been up for 5 years. I have a large siphon hose but it will not suck the sand out. If I use a cup then a cloud of yuck floats. How does everyone get it out. Then once it is all out how to I put new sand back in without affecting the fish and coral.

You have a large siphon hose as in the diameter of the hose or the length of the hose?

If you have a 1" hose, you can most definitely get the sand out, which is what I used. I first tried to use the hose from the Python I use to clean my sandbed, and it wasn't large enough; I needed to go with a large hose with higher flow rate to suck up the weight of the sand.

 

[cracker]

To add the sand back I use a large Tupperware container , fill with sand then lid add a little water dump in piles then spread it out . Please consider washing any sand before you put it the tank. It will silt up something terrible .

 

[Neo Jeo]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bucket-Head-5-gal-1-75-Peak-HP-Wet-Dry-Vac-BH0100/202017218

Could you use this? Seems like it would work.

 

[lion king]

I used a 3/4"-1" diameter hose and easily sucked my sandbed out, but be VERY careful around your rock structures. I caused a 200 lb rock slide that I thought was going to crash through the tank. it was frightening to watch thee rock structure slowly slide as if in slow motion, nothing I could do, then crashing down. Luckily it was a fowlr and all the fish escaped unharmed. And yes just using a container of sorts and lowering in the new sand is good.

 

[marvelousone]

this is what I try to use. I think I need to take the bulb off and try that way.

 

[CC13]

this is what I try to use. I think I need to take the bulb off and try that way.

You are better off to take the long plastic section off that you stick in the sand. Use only the green top piece and the hose it comes with.

 

[marvelousone]

You are better off to take the long plastic section off that you stick in the sand. Use only the green top piece and the hose it comes with.

Thanks

 

[CC13]

Thanks

The reason it doesn't work with the long section on, is when its full the weight of all that sand is too heavy for the flow.

Taking it off, it will easily suck up the sand.

Do you have any Nassarius snails? I am trying to figure out what to do with mine when I take my sandbed out today.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

You are better off to take the long plastic section off that you stick in the sand. Use only the green top piece and the hose it comes with.

That bulb is only to prime the siphon. It should be removed once siphon starts. If you want to suck out sand remove the siphon tube from the end and use just the hose

 

[Bayareareefer18]

The reason it doesn't work with the long section on, is when its full the weight of all that sand is too heavy for the flow.

Taking it off, it will easily suck up the sand.

Do you have any Nassarius snails? I am trying to figure out what to do with mine when I take my sandbed out today.

Just be prepared to grab the hose and kink it to let them fall back out.

Ask me how I know [emoji39]

 

[CC13]

That bulb is only to prime the siphon. It should be removed once siphon starts. If you want to suck out sand remove the siphon tube from the end and use just the hose

You can't remove it.... if you installed it up near the top there is no way you have a long enough line to reach the buckets. Either way, the sand removal with the prime pump installed will work.

You just need to remove the hard plastic section.

 

[marvelousone]

The reason it doesn't work with the long section on, is when its full the weight of all that sand is too heavy for the flow.

Taking it off, it will easily suck up the sand.

Do you have any Nassarius snails? I am trying to figure out what to do with mine when I take my sandbed out today.

I do and a wrasse. I was thinking about leaving a pile of sand in the back for them. I want to take out my sand and replace with new. I am having a bad algae and cyano outbreak for a year now. I want a white sand bed and right now it is brown.

 

[CC13]

I do and a wrasse. I was thinking about leaving a pile of sand in the back for them. I want to take out my sand and replace with new. I am having a bad algae and cyano outbreak for a year now. I want a white sand bed and right now it is brown.

Started the sand bed removal today. It was actually a lot easier than I thought.

 

[iron_mike_gt]

Are you looking to do the whole bed at once, or divide into 2-3 sections and replace over a few days/weeks? I’m thinking there is both good and bad stuff in my bed, and disturbing it all at once may not be a great thing. Thoughts?

 

[Ocean Lotion]

My recommendation is don't put sand back in. get a piece of quarter in starboard and put it on the bottom.
For detritus build up-
Crushed coral more so than sand.
Sand more so than bare bottom.
If you want sand commit to stirring it up every couple days. Just my 2 sence worth.

 

[marvelousone]

Are you looking to do the whole bed at once, or divide into 2-3 sections and replace over a few days/weeks? I’m thinking there is both good and bad stuff in my bed, and disturbing it all at once may not be a great thing. Thoughts?

going to remove a little a time when I do water change.

 

[marvelousone]

Started the sand bed removal today. It was actually a lot easier than I thought.

I did to. Did it by the video. It sucked it up quick. Got stopped up a couple times.

 

[mtraylor]

I do and a wrasse. I was thinking about leaving a pile of sand in the back for them. I want to take out my sand and replace with new. I am having a bad algae and cyano outbreak for a year now. I want a white sand bed and right now it is brown.

Just a few questions for you. How deep is your sand bed in your aquarium? What kind of sand did you use in your current setup?

 

[CC13]

I did to. Did it by the video. It sucked it up quick. Got stopped up a couple times.

Mine got stuck a couple times also when I sucked up some LR rubble or Nassarius shells.

I cleaned my sandbed regularly, and the water and sand was still just so filthy when I took it out yesterday. I would say I got about 25% of it out, it was so brown it was disgusting.

I have no idea how I am going to take the egg crate out tbh. There is no real way of doing it without tearing the tank down, which isn't really an option.