Moving LS Bed

[ryan115]

I have had my tank set up now for about 3-4 years. I am about to upgrade my tank size,

and had some questions about moving the sand bed. Would it be ok to move the sand to the new tank. Or would it release to many chemicals in the water to make it even worth the risk? :notsure:

 

[rustyj]

Do you have a cleaning crew?(snails and hermi's that have cleaned the sand over the 4 years you have had it? If it isnt full of ditrius which your tank wouldnt survive very long if it was not 'cleaned' for four years than it would be a great addition to your new tank because you will get all the beneficial bacteria that has grown in the sand since you first cycled it. If the new tank is larger than you can use it to 'seed' the new tank and it will jump start your cycling process. If you are really concerned about waste than you could stir it up after everything else is removed and see how bad it might be. But, chances are that if you have maintained the tank and the sand will definitely benefit the new tank in making it cycling process. One side note, if the sand is being used as a buffer you may want to just use a cup full of the old sand to seed the a new sand bed that is fresh with the calcuim that will help maintain your PH. Good luck.

 

[ninjamini]

Why not take the sand and put it in a 2 quart Chinese soup container. Turn it over in the new tank and ever so slowly lift it up. Releasing the mound.
Or
Get a tub of fresh salt water and put it into the tub. Stir it up and keep changing the water.
just some ideas.

 

[ryan115]

Yes I do have a cleanup crew that has been cleaning my tank for a while, but even then they only clean about the top 3/4" of the LSB. My main concern about the sand, is that the sand bed is about 3.5-4 inches deep. So being that the nitrobacter are anaerobic, would it just cause more dieoff, as they are turned up and exposed to the new water?