crushed coral vs. live sand...

[falynharris]

We bought our tank used and it had crushed coral and live sand mixed together on the bottom. We left it like it was for the time, but now we would really like to get the crushed coral out and go to all live sand. Does anyone have a good method of doing this??? We have been using a big plastic spoon with holes in it... but it is taking FOREVER. (not to mention that we do a section one day, and the live sand settles down again to expose MORE crushed coral....) Better methods? Anyone?

 

[dawman]

If the tank has been sitting dry for a long time I would throw out the sand and crushed coral .

 

[autofreak44]

replace it all

 

[fishkid2]

so this tank is not set up or something.
if it is u could just take some water out and suck up the coral and sand at the same time and maybe put though a straner.

 

[scotts]

One way that I read about was to take either something like a window screen, or an actual window screen. The sand will go through it and the CC will not.

 

[falynharris]

haha, no I wish it was a dry tank to do this. It is fully established and running well. My husband just hates the look of the crushed coral now, and wants to go to sand.

 

[doktorj99]

replace with new live sand

 

[al mc]

Falyn....I agree with many of the other postings. I had a combination like yours in my first tank and it became a haven for nitrates. I tried removing slowly using a sieve but it was like living a slow death...so, I bought some live sand and did an entire tank breakdown and clean up in one day. It can be done with no or minimal ammonia spike IF you use live sand and remove much of the existing water to reuse BEFORE you start stirring up the nitrate laden cc/sand bed.

 

[sly]

I have crushed coral and live sand. I also have no nitrates and haven't done a water change in 6 months. I think you have something else wrong with your system if you have nitrate problems... Too few LR pieces... poor bio system configuration, no plants...