Moving and switching to DSB

[bfrink]

I will be moving to a new house in about a month (only 5 miles away). I searched the board and read up on the "how to" of moving, but still have a few questions I could use some help with. I am considering switching from CC to a DSB when I move. My questions are as follows:
1. Will the switch cause any spikes that would prevent me from reintroducing the fish and rock right away? (I am planning on moving most, if not all of the water).
2. How much sand for a 72 gal bow? What kind of sand? (I think I can get Southdown at the Home Depot).
3. Should I keep any of the CC in the tank (i.e., in a mesh bag for a while), and if so, how much?
4. Although I've read it before, could someone point me to a good site about setting up a DSB?
Thanks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cgr]

I don't thin you'll regret the switch. I did it about six weeks ago and so far so good.
I have a 120 G tank and used 225# of sand and 25# argonite(sp) live sand on top. I moved all my CC using a fish net. When you do this you realize how much dirt accumulates in your tank. I could not find Southdown so I used play sand (silica) from ToysRUs.
While I did not keep any CC in the tank in a mesh bag, the thought did occur to me. I think the fact that I had 25# of live sand helped me. I check every day for any changes in water chemistry. Everything remained at the appropriate levels until a week ago when my PH dropped. I guess it is as a result of the silica sand.
The one concern I have about your switch is that you are moving. This could be too much shock for your fish. I would move everything as you have it now and do the switch in a few weeks after your fish adjust

 

[thomas712]

Originally posted by bfrink
My questions are as follows:
1. Will the switch cause any spikes that would prevent me from reintroducing the fish and rock right away? (I am planning on moving most, if not all of the water).
Yes anytime you move something like this you can have an ammonia spike from very small to oops. With new aragonite sand you can also wind up with a ph swing.
2. How much sand for a 72 gal bow? What kind of sand? (I think I can get Southdown at the Home Depot).
I would shoot for around 160 - 200 pounds for a DSB. Close to but not quite 80 pounds for a SSB.
3. Should I keep any of the CC in the tank (i.e., in a mesh bag for a while), and if so, how much?
Should be fine to keep 6 or 8 balls or tubes if you will. Just keep them in your old tank water along with any filter media from your tank. use as soon as possible. These will help with any cycle or spikes.
4. Although I've read it before, could someone point me to a good site about setting up a DSB?
If you will be using Southdown, Yardright playsand then you will have proper aragonite sand with a very good mix of grain sizes. When I did mine I placed the water in first then the sand. You can do the reverse if you like sand first, smooth it out then slowley add your water. There is southdown in Michigan but only one place that I know of, unless the home depots have been expanding their playsand line.
Thanks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Good luck on the move.
Thomas

 

[ackermsb]

CGR

[hr]
When you made the switch did you have fish in your tank.
I am thinking of doing the same thing but am worried abut spike that could occur.

 

[cgr]

Yes, I kept all my fish and rocks in the tank.
I cut a 5" piece of wood to fit the width of the tank and placed across the middle in the bottom. This wood served me as a measure for the 5" DSB I wanted. I moved all the rocks to one side of the tank and the fish quickly found refuge on the same side. I waited a week to do the other side and repeated the same process. I did not have any casualties!!
120 Gal FOWLR
1 Yellow tang
1 Blue tang
1 Sailfin tang
3 chromis
1 cleaner wrass
1 tomato clown
1 sleeper gobie
1 skunk cleaner shrimp
1 coral banded shrimp
2 peppermint shrimp
1 sandsifter star
emerald crabs,snails, blue and scarlet legged hermits
Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0, PH 8.2, Salinity 1.024