Switching from cc to sand

[noles1]

I have a 30 gal tank and wanna swith from cc to sand.My tank is still cycling.I have two damsels.Should I wait till its done cycling to do it, or do it now?I plan on adding one bag of live sand and the rest artificial.I would love some suggestions on the easiest way to do it.Do I need to remove the fish?

 

[adrian]

If your tank is cycling you might as well go ahead and do it. Is there anyway you can get the lFS to watch your fish for you. You wont need them to cycle your tank if you use live sand. HTH

 

[andymi]

I think I would do it now, add the live sand and you can try it with the damsels in there, but beware they are known to be very territorial especially after you put them through the cycle. I heard they can get kinda grumpy.
--Andy

 

[salisbury a d]

I did this a couple months ago. If you want the fish keep them.
What you gotta do is get a bucket or a cooler and put your live rock in it and put wet paper towels over them. Next get another bucket for the fish and corals. Since you have no corals this bucket will just be fish. Airate the water.
Once everything is out shut down all pumps and filters and remove the hood.
Get the biggest net you have and start scoopen. Just throw the cc into another bucket. Once you get it out you can do two things. one put the lr in and surround the bottom with sand. or two add the sand then aquascape.
To make up for the loss of water add premixed salt water to the tank and turn the filters pumps on and relocate the hood. Once it clears up add the fish.
Forgot one step after there is nothing but water in the tank no lr fish or cc let it settle. than siphone the debris off the bottom of the tank. You may have to do this more than once. the follow the rest I told you. Hope this helps.
Adam