CC to sand

[slider101]

Ok, if I want to convert to sand from CC I know that I can use aragonite sand and add directly to my tank so I have been told. Now can I add the sand to my CC to get a mix? Since the CC is already in there I thought maybe I could move some of the CC out and add the sand to the top of the CC and mix. It would be sandy and have the CC that the copepods like. I maybe way off thinking but I like the CC too and hate to get rid of all of it.

 

[mpdan]

dont really know how to change over i tried to just add sand on top of cc but sand seems to find its way tothebottom didnt really work was moreof a waste of $$

 

[pumper]

imo, leave the cc and dump the sand on top. It will all even out. I have both in my tank.

 

[slider101]

Originally Posted by Pumper
http:///forum/post/2906540
imo, leave the cc and dump the sand on top. It will all even out. I have both in my tank.
Yeah that was what I was thinking. I thought about removing maybe half of the CC and then putting the sand on top. It would work its way down and then i could add more until I have the consistency that I was looking for. As long as I can add aragonite sand directly to my tank without cycling.

 

[florida joe]

Just some things to consider. You have a lot of bio filtration going on at the surface of your substraight. So I would add the sand a section at a time allowing for colonization on and in the sand. I would vacuum the section of CC I was going to cover with sand very well so I do not bury any detritus under the sand

 

[slider101]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2906704
Just some things to consider. You have a lot of bio filtration going on at the surface of your substraight. So I would add the sand a section at a time allowing for colonization on and in the sand. I would vacuum the section of CC I was going to cover with sand very well so I do not bury any detritus under the sand
Good point Joe, thanks. So you think I would be ok to add the aragonite sand to the tank without having to cycle it? Shouldn't affect my fish or inverts?

 

[florida joe]

I really don’t fully understand what you mean by having to cycle it? Are you are talking about the sand or tank as a whole? If your tank is cycled you have nitrification and denitrification to some extent established. By adding the sand over a cleaned section of CC you are going to diminish the filtration capacity by some extent that’s why you should do a section at a time so you give the nitrification performing bacteria time to colonize on your sand. I am not sure if I answered you question, if not pose it in an other way if you can

 

[slider101]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2906768
I really don’t fully understand what you mean by having to cycle it? Are you are talking about the sand or tank as a whole? If your tank is cycled you have nitrification and denitrification to some extent established. By adding the sand over a cleaned section of CC you are going to diminish the filtration capacity by some extent that’s why you should do a section at a time so you give the nitrification performing bacteria time to colonize on your sand. I am not sure if I answered you question, if not pose it in an other way if you can
I guess what I mean is does the sand have things in it that would cause a spike in the ammonia when added to the tank. Like adding live rock, it has to be cycled or can spike everything and kill.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2906777
I guess what I mean is does the sand have things in it that would cause a spike in the ammonia when added to the tank. Like adding live rock, it has to be cycled or can spike everything and kill.
no your sand should not contain anything thats going to die off

 

[slider101]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2906822
no your sand should not contain anything thats going to die off
Excellent, is that for regular live sand or just the aragonite sand that will not have anything that will die off? Sorry for all the questions I just want to be extra sure so I don't kill everything. I have been so careful and this is my first tank and dont want to ruin everything.

 

[florida joe]

Let me clarify something you can get what they call live sand, which so they claim when you add saltwater stimulates the growth of nitrifying bacteria. That bacterium will die if not feed, Non-live sand will not have any bacteria already in it. Either way if you have a cycled tank you should not get a spike if introduced slowly

 

[slider101]

Great! Then that is what I will do. I will take a section at a time and slowly add the sand till I get the mix that I want. Thank you so much.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2906857
Great! Then that is what I will do. I will take a section at a time and slowly add the sand till I get the mix that I want. Thank you so much.

 

[slider101]

Tomorrow I am getting my supplies to switch over to sand. Thanks to Joe for the advice. I am probably going to do a 1/4-1/3 of the bottom to aragonite sand and let that sit for awhile to get some bacteria to grow in it and then move on and do another section. Think I will be alot happier with results of the sand versus CC.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2912556
Tomorrow I am getting my supplies to switch over to sand. Thanks to Joe for the advice. I am probably going to do a 1/4-1/3 of the bottom to aragonite sand and let that sit for awhile to get some bacteria to grow in it and then move on and do another section. Think I will be alot happier with results of the sand versus CC.
Keep us posted

and Please do a section at a time

 

[slider101]

Removed a 1/3 of the CC tonight and replaced with Aragonite. Looks good so far, tank is a mess but the bottom is looking better. Mixed a little CC in with it. Piled all the LR on top of the sand now exposing all the CC. Going to wait a bit and do another section in a few days I guess. Hopefully the CC that I am mixing in with the sand will help get some bacteria growing quickly in that sand since the CC is already established.

 

[dani]

Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2914825
Removed a 1/3 of the CC tonight and replaced with Aragonite. Looks good so far, tank is a mess but the bottom is looking better. Mixed a little CC in with it. Piled all the LR on top of the sand now exposing all the CC. Going to wait a bit and do another section in a few days I guess. Hopefully the CC that I am mixing in with the sand will help get some bacteria growing quickly in that sand since the CC is already established.
Are you switching while leaving your fish and inverts in the tank?
I have CC, also, along with an undergravel filter that is worthless. I am about to take on the not-so-fun task of removing the undergravel filter and a majority of the CC. I was planning on doing it like suggested above, as well, so that nothing spikes, etc.

 

[florida joe]

Originally Posted by Dani
http:///forum/post/2915122
Are you switching while leaving your fish and inverts in the tank?
I have CC, also, along with an undergravel filter that is worthless. I am about to take on the not-so-fun task of removing the undergravel filter and a majority of the CC. I was planning on doing it like suggested above, as well, so that nothing spikes, etc.
why are you going to take out the undergravel filter

 

[dani]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2915126
why are you going to take out the undergravel filter
It's not working for the setup. I'm going to switch out and venture into the sump and wet/dry route... I'm still a newbie and have the help of some friends. I've also been researching and know what direction I want to go with my tank.

 

[spanko]

Just as a point of my experience here. I had been running a bare bottom tank for close to a year. Decided I wanted to add sand to the tank so I figured why not use the live bagged stuff. I experience a spike in ammonia that killed off a couple of fish. In hind sight I wish I would have used dry sand. I believe the bagged live sand contained enough dead material that is cause the spike.
Just my experience, carry on.