Removing C.C.

drtito

drtito

Member
Hello everyone,
I got my live sand today and need some advice on how to remove the C.C. without hurting the fish,tank,inverts and worms. Any help would be great I am going to buy a trash can before I go home tonight for the C.C. and water.
Also I will place my tank on its new stand,old one was not too strong.
Bigger,stronger, more outlets inside.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
i would vacuum the cc as clean as i could get it, and then pull it out with a fish net. how old is the cc bed?
 
nordy

nordy

Active Member
Agree on cleaning the cc as much as possible before doing the change. I would also suggest using a good canister filter (with extra filters on hand) to clear up the water when you do the change because there will still be a lot of stuff in the water column no matter how well you clean the CC.
It has been recommended by a number of knowledgeable people to remove only 1/3 or so of your CC at a time. My personal experience with my 55 gal reef tank was that I changed out all of my old CC at once. I had the sand washed and ready, a number of 5gal buckets w/powerheads and small heaters to place my corals in, other buckets with just tank water for most of the LR, 10 gallons of freshly mixed SW, and 5 extra filters for my canister filter to clean up the very cloudy water. A messy job, but I didn't lose any corals, zoas, fish, hermits, (except those I might have accidentally thrown away!) or crabs-they all survived and by the next morning the tank was completely clear.
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
I disagree with the others. Do not vacuum the CC. Since you want to move the tank to a new stand..you will have to almost completely empty it. So I would start by removing all the water into a large containers..leave as little as possible without stirring up the CC. Remove fish as water level get low (easier to catch this way) Remove rocks corals etc. Put in containers Etc. Scoop all the CC out with a plastic dustpan. Add new sand ,water,reaquascape add fish corals...done!
I did this on my 130 gallon reef about a year ago...Did not lose a single fish/coral/invert...had a very mini cycle after the change..but nothing bad. Took me and 2 buddies about 3 hours start to finish. Be sure you have lots of buckets towels etc...have your SW mixed and ready to go (make more than you think you will need) Just my 2 cents..
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
Originally Posted by ifirefight
http:///forum/post/2634336
I disagree with the others. Do not vacuum the CC. Since you want to move the tank to a new stand..you will have to almost completely empty it. So I would start by removing all the water into a large containers..leave as little as possible without stirring up the CC. Remove fish as water level get low (easier to catch this way) Remove rocks corals etc. Put in containers Etc. Scoop all the CC out with a plastic dustpan. Add new sand ,water,reaquascape add fish corals...done!
I did this on my 130 gallon reef about a year ago...Did not lose a single fish/coral/invert...had a very mini cycle after the change..but nothing bad. Took me and 2 buddies about 3 hours start to finish. Be sure you have lots of buckets towels etc...have your SW mixed and ready to go (make more than you think you will need) Just my 2 cents..
Yep! Thats how I would do it also!
A plastic kids beach shovel works well to scoop out the CC too!
If you are concerned about a cycle. Just place some CC in Nylon bags or new stockings and place back in the tank or better yet the sump. This will help colonize the new sand with the bacteria from the CC........
HTH
Tim
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
X3...If you are going to have to basically empty the tank do not do anything to disturb the detrius in the CC until you have everything you want out of the tank and safely into buckets. You will not believe how much 'junk' is in the CC. Also, if you are using live sand then I do not feel it is necessary to use any of the cc in a filter sock/stocking etc. You will have enough 'good' bacteria already in your live sand.
 
drtito

drtito

Member
Originally Posted by ifirefight
http:///forum/post/2634336
I disagree with the others. Do not vacuum the CC. Since you want to move the tank to a new stand..you will have to almost completely empty it. So I would start by removing all the water into a large containers..leave as little as possible without stirring up the CC. Remove fish as water level get low (easier to catch this way) Remove rocks corals etc. Put in containers Etc. Scoop all the CC out with a plastic dustpan. Add new sand ,water,reaquascape add fish corals...done!
I did this on my 130 gallon reef about a year ago...Did not lose a single fish/coral/invert...had a very mini cycle after the change..but nothing bad. Took me and 2 buddies about 3 hours start to finish. Be sure you have lots of buckets towels etc...have your SW mixed and ready to go (make more than you think you will need) Just my 2 cents..

Originally Posted by TurningTim
http:///forum/post/2634459
Yep! Thats how I would do it also!
A plastic kids beach shovel works well to scoop out the CC too!
If you are concerned about a cycle. Just place some CC in Nylon bags or new stockings and place back in the tank or better yet the sump. This will help colonize the new sand with the bacteria from the CC........
HTH
Tim
SUPER GOOD
Thanks guys Ill put it to use tonight, I cheaned a new grabage can last night for water and fish, Ill get some more buckets and a new dust pan before I go home.

P.S. will my skimmer act up after the change??
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
Probably, Just crank it way down and adjust up. With all the change in the tank your bound to kick up yuck and sand.
It'll be just fine.......
Take you time and move slowly!
 
drtito

drtito

Member
opened up my bags to find a black and white mix of sand instead of a solid black live sand.
can anyone name a brand that carries true black sand live or not?
Need 100 pounds
 
rebelprettyboy

rebelprettyboy

Active Member
Whereed u buy then sand? I know out pets kmart here has black sand but dont know the brand.
Did u order it from online or what? if so id go get a refund
 
drtito

drtito

Member
i got it from the LFS its good stuff just not the right color. do u know if the black sand at pets k mart is reef safe? and !!
SOLID BLACK
!!
 
tdog7879

tdog7879

Member
i just pulled out some of my CC today and added about 10 pounds of LS in there...........It was a nightmare! The tank got really cloudy and the fish freakout but everything seems to be ok......I Hope!
By the way i used a fishnet to pull the CC out and to add LS.
 
seagoblin333

seagoblin333

Member
I know Carib Sea makes a great aragonite sand that is completely black. I bought mine online for I'd say a somewhat expensive price if that helps.
 
drtito

drtito

Member
I used the 2nd set of insturtions given to me,every thing is fine, sand is in, rock work needs to be setup inverts,fish,and coral are O.K.

I hope to put up a new photo tonight.
I still need 100lbs more so next week more sand.
 
drtito

drtito

Member
Originally Posted by tdog7879
http:///forum/post/2636614
i just pulled out some of my CC today and added about 10 pounds of LS in there...........It was a nightmare! The tank got really cloudy and the fish freakout but everything seems to be ok......I Hope!
By the way i used a fishnet to pull the CC out and to add LS.
Try to ask for infromation FIRST then do it the way that works best for you and your tank and fish. Anything your doing, someone has most likly done before. This way you dont beat your self up or you wallet.

Originally Posted by Seagoblin333
http:///forum/post/2637632
I know Carib Sea makes a great aragonite sand that is completely black. I bought mine online for I'd say a somewhat expensive price if that helps.

I got argra-alive sand made by icantremeber it says indo black but it is not solid black I THINK its a differnt brand,but then again there I go thinking again. I will check it out for next weeks 100lbs.
P.S. A frend bought me shells and rocks from the beach,My LFS told be to boil in water and bleach for 15 min. Is this O.K.??????
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by DrTITO
http:///forum/post/2634129
Hello everyone,
I got my live sand today and need some advice on how to remove the C.C. without hurting the fish,tank,inverts and worms. Any help would be great I am going to buy a trash can before I go home tonight for the C.C. and water.
Also I will place my tank on its new stand,old one was not too strong.
Bigger,stronger, more outlets inside.

Just a comment: I've sure noticed the way you are approaching this hobby; doing good research before acting. I wish I had learned this way. I think you've found a lifetime addiction!. BTW a piece of large diameter (maybe 1 1/2") piece of flexible hose is great for removing substrate and the crud that goes with it. If the hose is big enough, it will be very fast and not empty the tank before you get all the substrate out.
 
drtito

drtito

Member
I like this site. There are more answers then ways fish swim on this site. As for addiction I have a few racing,gaming,cars, and women just to name a few. My LFS asked what I did with my C.C. I did not use it in another tank I poured it in a walkway.
Say this in a southern tounge "my conceret is reel purrty noww"

HA HA HA
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
Originally Posted by DrTITO
http:///forum/post/2637637
I used the 2nd set of insturtions given to me,every thing is fine
Just to be clear...how did you go about doing it? I don't really care if it was my suggestion or not...just glad all worked out well! And for any others interested in doing the same thing.
 
drtito

drtito

Member
everything is fine all went well,with you help,fire,THANKS MAN. All the fish and inverts made it, with the exception of my clown fish who got bubble eye from the net.
I hope to have a picture up soon thanks everybody
 
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