crushed coral to sand
- Thread starter jack-a-be
- Start date
nicetry
Active Member
That's quite a fish load for a 75. If the cc is deep (more than a couple inches). I'd syphon it thoroughly first to remove as much crud as possible. run your filters/skimmer during the process and be ready to rinse/change filter pads. If you're not running carbon, do it.
I'd use a divider of sorts (piece of egg crate) and section off a third of the tank at a time. Manually remove the cc with a scoop or similar implement. Let the dust settle before moving on to the next section. You can do this over the course of a few days so as not to stress the fish. Personally, I'd get all of the cc out, and then slowly add your sand. Do this by means of a long piece of flexible tubing and a funnel. THe tubing can be positioned just above the tank bottom and you can direct the sand where you want it to go with minimal clouding. Again, this can be done over a period of days if you want.
This is one method. If you had no fish or only a couple, I'd suggest the one day method. You remove the fish to a holding vat with a heater and powerhead. Get the cc out and add the sand, them replace the fish. Have plenty of towels and a batch of new mixed saltwater to replenish.
There are different ways to do it, just find the one that suits you.
I'd use a divider of sorts (piece of egg crate) and section off a third of the tank at a time. Manually remove the cc with a scoop or similar implement. Let the dust settle before moving on to the next section. You can do this over the course of a few days so as not to stress the fish. Personally, I'd get all of the cc out, and then slowly add your sand. Do this by means of a long piece of flexible tubing and a funnel. THe tubing can be positioned just above the tank bottom and you can direct the sand where you want it to go with minimal clouding. Again, this can be done over a period of days if you want.
This is one method. If you had no fish or only a couple, I'd suggest the one day method. You remove the fish to a holding vat with a heater and powerhead. Get the cc out and add the sand, them replace the fish. Have plenty of towels and a batch of new mixed saltwater to replenish.
There are different ways to do it, just find the one that suits you.
serbanc
New Member
I actually removed my sand. My tank is about 100gal, so to minimize the shock to the fish I did it over three water changes (there is a lot of stuff in that sand, like nutrients and other things, which if suddenly removed might mess up the balance of the tank) .
First couple of times I took out as much of the sand as I could with the hose during the normal process of changing the water. Finally, on the third water change I removed enough water to fill two tupperware containers and I transfered all my fish and coral. Then I removed all the live rock and placed it in a third tupperware with water from the tank. I proceeded with removing ther remaining water and all of the sand. As I got to the bottom of the tank, I used rags to soak up the little sand left as there was not enough water left to use the hose anymore. Once done, I rearranged the rock, replaced most of the original water, plus added new water as I would during the normal water change, and finally reintroduced the coral and fish. It was a real success, and now the tank stays clean much longer.
Either way, the process should be the similar.
I was going to add back crushed rock and coral, but decided to leave it bare-glass bottom, in hope that over time coraline algae will take hold and make it really interesting - I've seen it done and it was amazing looking!
Once started, the final process was done with in about six hours, though my back hurt for about two days! Good luck!
First couple of times I took out as much of the sand as I could with the hose during the normal process of changing the water. Finally, on the third water change I removed enough water to fill two tupperware containers and I transfered all my fish and coral. Then I removed all the live rock and placed it in a third tupperware with water from the tank. I proceeded with removing ther remaining water and all of the sand. As I got to the bottom of the tank, I used rags to soak up the little sand left as there was not enough water left to use the hose anymore. Once done, I rearranged the rock, replaced most of the original water, plus added new water as I would during the normal water change, and finally reintroduced the coral and fish. It was a real success, and now the tank stays clean much longer.
Either way, the process should be the similar.
I was going to add back crushed rock and coral, but decided to leave it bare-glass bottom, in hope that over time coraline algae will take hold and make it really interesting - I've seen it done and it was amazing looking!
Once started, the final process was done with in about six hours, though my back hurt for about two days! Good luck!