yvetterich
Member
Can you convert from cc to ls without disrupting your tank too much? can you remove the cc in sections and replace with ls? has anyone tried it this way?
converting from cc to ls
- Thread starter yvetterich
- Start date
S
slk3599
Guest
I replaced the crushed coral in my 75g FOWLR tank with sand. Here's how I did it:
Turn of all pumps and filters.
I scooped out all the crushed coral that I could.
I had purchased a 2 1/2" to 3" diameter pvc pipe about 20" long from the hardware store. After you rinse the sand (I used CaribSea reef grade), scoop it into the pvc pipe that has been placed in the tank. Slowly remove the pipe and repeat the process.
You will get some clouding of the water. I did a 15 to 20% water change right after. Turned on all the pumps, filters and the tank cleared up in a couple of hours. Did not lose any fish or invertebrates.
Just make sure you rinse the sand very good. This might be a problem if you are going with the very fine oolite sand, which you probably shouldn't rinse.
HTH
Turn of all pumps and filters.
I scooped out all the crushed coral that I could.
I had purchased a 2 1/2" to 3" diameter pvc pipe about 20" long from the hardware store. After you rinse the sand (I used CaribSea reef grade), scoop it into the pvc pipe that has been placed in the tank. Slowly remove the pipe and repeat the process.
You will get some clouding of the water. I did a 15 to 20% water change right after. Turned on all the pumps, filters and the tank cleared up in a couple of hours. Did not lose any fish or invertebrates.
Just make sure you rinse the sand very good. This might be a problem if you are going with the very fine oolite sand, which you probably shouldn't rinse.
HTH
fau8
Member
I JUST WENT THOUGH THIS, i REMOVED MY UNDERGRAVEL FILTER AND ABOUT 60% OF MY CC, I THEN PILED THE REMAINING CC TO THE CENTER OF THE TANK AND AND COVERED IT WITH NYLON SCREENING. (THIS IS A 50 GALLON TANK) I THEN USED 3 BAGS OF LIVE SAND IT COST $30.00 A BAG BUT ITS CLEAN AND WON'T CAUSE A TANK CYCLE.IT ALSO DOES NOT HAVE TO BE WASHED AND THUS WILL NOT CLOUD YOU WATER. YES I DID HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING OUT OF THE TANK FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS BUT I DID NOT LOOSE ANYTHING FROM MY REEF SETUP. THE WATER WAS CLEAR WITHIN 2 HOURS AND THE SAND HAS ELIMINATED ALOT OF WASTE NOW THAT THE CLEAN UP CREW CAN GET TO IT. ITS BEEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS NOW AND THE TANK IS MUCH MORE STABLE AND CLEAN. I DID DO A 15 % WATER CHANGE BEFORE PUTTING THE FISH BACK BECAUSE I FIGURED THERE WOULD BE A NITRATE SPIKE WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE UNDER GRAVEL FILTER. THE TANK WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS BEFORE WHEN DID THIS.
K
krustytheclownfish
Guest
fau8- what did you use for filtration once you removed the UGF?
S
stormbind
Guest
Fau8- why did you pile the remaining cc in the center of the tank and cover it with a nylon screen? This seems a little odd to me.. Why didn't you take out all the cc?
yvetterich
Member
How much live sand should I get for a 55gal fo tank? I think I put in 40lb of cc if remember right. Also, if you buy live sand, then you should not have a cycle again, right? 
fau8
Member
ref. filtration I have a wet dry filter half full with bio balls I'm currently in the process of removing them and allowing the live rock to filter the tank. about 40-45 pounds of it.
I did not take out all the cc on suggestion of the lfs it was going to basicly a money saver it took the place of another 2 bags of live sand. with the mesh between the two its encapulated with at least an inch of live sand all the way around.
using live sand was the only way to for me to go, as I had to get the fish back in and I wasn't going to chance milky water. If it was a new setup maybe it would be different.
But it takes long enough to wash out cc I don't even want to think about washing sand.
I did not take out all the cc on suggestion of the lfs it was going to basicly a money saver it took the place of another 2 bags of live sand. with the mesh between the two its encapulated with at least an inch of live sand all the way around.
using live sand was the only way to for me to go, as I had to get the fish back in and I wasn't going to chance milky water. If it was a new setup maybe it would be different.
But it takes long enough to wash out cc I don't even want to think about washing sand.