How to switch from UGF to LR & LS ???

[caymanlovers]

We are some newbies who went with the UGF the LFS sold us. (I had a saltwater tank 20 years ago and that was about all there was and I had not read up on the newer technology, mia culpa.)
We have a 50 gallon and want to take out the 3" of crushed coral and go with live sand and rock but we also have five fish. We also already have a Fluval 304 and Remora Pro skimmer going.
Has anyone made the switch from UGF to LS & LR with an active tank?
We have a 10 gallon quarantine tank that could be used as a temporary home for the fish.
Your help will be appreciated.

 

[mr . salty]

I didn't have a UGF,But I did switch from CC to Live sand. Here's my two cents:Seeing as you have a second tank,that is where I would put the fish.Then move all the rock to one side of the tank and remove all the CC and the ugf on that side.Then move all the rock to the other side and remove that CC and UGF.Then pour in two twenty lb bags of Natures Ocean live sand.This sand is avalible on this site with free next day shipping.This paticular sand is perfect for this kind of upgrade.And can be added without any recycle. Let it settle for about 24 hours,then put the fish back in. It really is as easy as that.Then you will be on the right track to a nitrate free self cleaning substrate.Your fish will love you for the change....

 

[beth]

Cayman, you and I are in the same boat! Did we go to the same LFS? LOL I started the marine hobby about 13 yrs ago after several yrs of FW, then stopped and went back to FW for awhile. When I got back in to marine 3 yrs ago I was not that familiar with the internet yet and TRUSTED my lfs, who I had been dealing with for many yrs, to set me up right...WRONG. Now I am stuck with this old fashioned dying magaladon UGF system.
Like you I'm about to do the switch over. But the nitrate levels are so high in the existing system along with 1-1/2 yrs worth of UGF organic waste accumulation, I'm afraid that just pulling the UGF and the CC without breaking down the whole system will result in major problems or a crash. It would be nice if I could just pull the UGF and CC and leave the existing water [but yuk].
More opinions??

 

[caymanlovers]

Mr Salty - thanks.
Beth - I have had the same worries although my tank has not been running as long as yours. I too have what I think are high nitrates (80+)- PLUS our LFS recommended running copper in the system so I am working at getting that out before adding live rock and making the big change.
Mr. Salty - would the copper kill the live sand?

 

[beth]

Copper will kill LS and LR. If you're not going to use any of the previous substrate or decor, you should be alright. If you are going to use any of the old water, then run your water thru some good carbon filtration.

 

[teetee]

OK, so that makes three of us who are about to make the conversion. I with my 135g have the exact same concerns. I plan to do the whole thing in one afternoon. I just dread some sort of crash.
I think I will remove the fish, leave the water in & have the filtration running as I remove the CC & UGF. Once they are removed I will allow for the "dust" to settle & then vacumm it out to a total of about 25%. Place the live sand, then rededcorate. Finally I will add the remaining water & fish.
I have been scouting around town for sand, live sand, & aragonite & have realized that this is going to be an expensive venture. I have to budget for this one. It won't be happening very soon. T.T.

 

[caymanlovers]

Thanks again to Beth and Salty and now TeeTee.
I am going to work at getting the copper out with carbon, I know it (copper) will leach out of the coral and rocks for some time so we shall see.
Question about the live rock - I have read about curing it, about how long should I do that? I plan to have it in a bucket with circulation and a heater, anything else?
[ May 07, 2001: Message edited by: CaymanLovers ]

 

[mr . salty]

Depending on the rock,it will take two or three weeks.Maybe longer.Just test the water till the ammo,and trItes are gone.Pretty much like cycling a tank....

 

[krustytheclownfish]

Make that 4 of us.
I've heard of people using a ugf for a plenum to increase anaerobic bacteria to reduce nitrates. Anyone have any experience doing this? Maybe you could just keep the ugf and cc in the tank and put ls over it. Or is there too much waste built up over time to do this? Any comments?
Cayman- I've heard that you should also have a protein skimmer in the container that you are curing the lr in, since there will be lots of dying organic material. Oh by the way I like the name. Do you like the cayman reptiles or does you're name mean something else?

 

[johnnysalt]

...and hooray for you three!! Get those ugf's out of there! Woo hoo!
I switched out my ugf and cc in a few hours in my 40g. Speaking of the budget, I did not go with 100% of live sand. The live sand will "seed" the other sand in about 4-6 months I'm told. I used Nature's Ocean ls...as Mr. Salty and I swear by!...and some CaribSea aragonite sand. The CaribSea was about half the price of the ls. Also found out about Southdown brand sand at Home Depot from this board...I think Mr. Salty told us! Anyway, have fun...btw, the ls will shorten any cycle you have with adding the lr.

 

[caymanlovers]

Thanks to everyone, keep those ideas coming, we appreciate it!
Krusty - someone previously mentioned the plenum but I do not know enough about them to go that route with this tank. Our CC is only four months old now so we don't have a lot of junk in it (at least I don't think so, we have been vacuuming with water changes each week.)
Skimmer in curing tub -I too have heard about using the skimmer while curing LR but I only have one skimmer and it will be on the tank. I plan to just keep changing water in the cure bin with water from the main tank. (Good plan?)
As to the name, my wife an I honeymooned on Grand Cayman, fell in love with it, bought a time share on the east end and go back every year. Great place to just chill and get in with the beautiful fishies, etc. Do love the blue iguanas, Cayman Parrots, crabs on the road and just about everything else! We will be there for Thanksgiving. If anyone else on the board is going to be there at that time let me know, could be fun to get together.