CC to sand

florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Dani
http:///forum/post/2915130
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.
so you are going to completly tear down the tank and start over ?
 
dani

dani

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2915158
so you are going to completly tear down the tank and start over ?
No, just switch over when I get everything situated. I figured I'd start with removing the CC and replacing with sand. I think I'd like a 1 part CC to 8 parts sand kind of mix. I was planning on the switch over a longer time frame and monitoring all the levels in the tank (i.e. take out small sections of CC leaving just enough to mix into sand)
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I personally would not remove the under gravel filter I believe you have good bio filtration bacteria colonized on it and it also acts as a plenum. Just my own opinion
 
dani

dani

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2915177
I personally would not remove the under gravel filter I believe you have good bio filtration bacteria colonized on it and it also acts as a plenum. Just my own opinion
It isn't running at the moment anyway. When I moved the tank, CC must have gotten under it and into the intakes. When I set up it ruined one of the filters. Currently, it is in the tank and not hooked up. When it was hooked up I didn't think it was doing a good enough job.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Dani
http:///forum/post/2915201
It isn't running at the moment anyway. When I moved the tank, CC must have gotten under it and into the intakes. When I set up it ruined one of the filters. Currently, it is in the tank and not hooked up. When it was hooked up I didn't think it was doing a good enough job.
you will not use it in any Mechanical way its physical presents will be of a benefit. I believe
 
slider101

slider101

Member
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.
I am leaving everything in. I only have 3 clowns and 3 damsels and 1 scooter blenny, cleaner shrimp, 8 red leg hermits. Nothing to fragile. They have taken it well so far. I used dry aragonite sand and so far no spikes from moving the old CC old and stirring it up. Starting to look better!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2916159
I am leaving everything in. I only have 3 clowns and 3 damsels and 1 scooter blenny, cleaner shrimp, 8 red leg hermits. Nothing to fragile. They have taken it well so far. I used dry aragonite sand and so far no spikes from moving the old CC old and stirring it up. Starting to look better!
 
slider101

slider101

Member
My first Emergency!!! Work up this morning after doing the sand swap and go downstairs to my office to start work for the day and check out my aquarium, still all in disarray from the partial conversion, rocks everywhere but no big deal, to find the water temp at 73 degrees!!!!! My heater craps out on me!! Now I understand why using 2 smaller heaters is better than one large heater! And of course I have to work all day. Sending the wife to the store to get another heater. Blasted my lights on hopeing to warm them up some. Everything is still moving and looks fine but I am about 6 degrees from normal temp I have it at. Only have some fish and a shrimp and hermits so nothing to fragile but what a shocker to wake up too!!!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2916377
My first Emergency!!! Work up this morning after doing the sand swap and go downstairs to my office to start work for the day and check out my aquarium, still all in disarray from the partial conversion, rocks everywhere but no big deal, to find the water temp at 73 degrees!!!!! My heater craps out on me!! Now I understand why using 2 smaller heaters is better than one large heater! And of course I have to work all day. Sending the wife to the store to get another heater. Blasted my lights on hopeing to warm them up some. Everything is still moving and looks fine but I am about 6 degrees from normal temp I have it at. Only have some fish and a shrimp and hermits so nothing to fragile but what a shocker to wake up too!!!
you are ok just make sure you dont go below 70
 
slider101

slider101

Member
Crisis averted! Temp back up to 79. I unplugged the heater for a bit and plugged it back in and it started working. I am keeping a close eye on that thing. Think I may get a backup one just in case. Tank is starting to look good now with the sand. Already starting to get some buildup on top of the sand though. I don't know how to get rid of this stuff!!! Guess I will do about a 20 gallon change on it. It is a 55 gal and I only have 20 gals handy. I checked my ammonia, trites, trates and they were all at 0 after the CC to sand change. Ph is only at 7.8 right now. Still dont have a phosphate test kit.
Well I guess I can't expect the sand to stay prestine white though so maybe I am jumping the gun. I looked at some other tanks online and they have a little algea growth on the sand also. I will watch it.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I meant to get back to you yesterday. But my after the fact advice was this. Is your heater in your DT or sump? If it is in your DT I was going to tell you to stop all flow with in your DT. This would bring your temperature up to your normal range slower. And thus give your fish a better time frame to acclimate
 
slider101

slider101

Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2917551
I meant to get back to you yesterday. But my after the fact advice was this. Is your heater in your DT or sump? If it is in your DT I was going to tell you to stop all flow with in your DT. This would bring your temperature up to your normal range slower. And thus give your fish a better time frame to acclimate
I don't have a sump so it is in my DT. Once the heater got fired up they all seem to adjust fine. Thank goodness I don't have very sensitive animals living in there right now. Thanks for the advice though, I will remember that in the future.
 
slider101

slider101

Member
Well my CC to sand tranformation is complete and it was completely succesfull!! The looks are so much better. Crabs seem happier and my blenny lol. I found a good way to add sand without a whole lot of disturbance. I washed the sand several times and rinsed it. Loaded the wet sand into plastic "walmart" sack and tied the top, lowered into the water to the bottom and then tore the bottom of the bag open. The sand fell right to the bottom and then I spread it with my hands. May be crude but it worked for me!
 
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