Switching from FOWLR Crushed Coral to DSB

[lionstorm]

What are the pluses and minuses of each? My crushed coral I have now currently has an undergravel filter running. What would be the pluses to replacing this system with a deep sand bed? What would be the drawbacks? (besides the horrible mess and possibility of triggering another cycle)
I am already considering the work it would require to do this feat, (i have 70 lbs of live rock in the tank) so now I need to decide if it would be worth it.
Thank you in advance.

 

[dburr]

I did it over a year ago. It's worth it. Work? yes. Better? yes.
Drawbacks? Only the work and the cycle to be over. (mine lasted four days )
good luck.

 

[lionstorm]

thank you dburr! i wasnt sure if changing it over would trigger a cycle or not, I figured it would but one other person on here said they did it half and half and it didnt. I think I'll play it safe and get some quarantine tanks up before I do this.
Thanks a lot!

 

[ackermsb]

I am in the process of the doing this right now however I am using a QT tank to house my fish for a week or two while the tank cycles. I ended up taking out all the CC and tonight am going to put in the LS. I will put nylon stockings with crushed coral on top of the LS to seed some of the bacteria and I may even put some in the sump. It is not an easy process (especially in a 180 but I like others feel it is well worth it in the long run.

 

[nacl-man]

My first tank was CC with a UGF... the switch was worth all the hassle.. fortunately I was able to do it without having to worry about livestock... that would have been a pain... make use of that QT and wait for everything to settle down in the main tank and you should be good to go.
Good luck! You'll wish you had done it earlier... much easier to care for and IMO it looks MUCH better.

 

[lionstorm]

thank you for the post I hadn't heard of the pantyhose idea before I will try that. And i know that can't be any small job in a 180 gallon tank.
Now all I have to do is convince my dad it will be better for my tank in the long run, he seems convinced I'm going to kill all my fish when I do this.

 

[ackermsb]

I was too afraid to make the switch while the fish were in the main tank so I setup a QT for them.
The only bad part about the panty hose was when I had to go to the counter and purchase them? I tried to convince the lady they werent for me, then she had the nerve to tell me that I would lok good in them. jeeeeeeez!!!

 

[lionstorm]

lol. well i'm 17/f so I doubt they'll hassle me. At least I HOPE they won't

 

[ackermsb]

Im guessing your not going to have a problem and probably will not receive looks that you have 2 heads.
The only advice I have is to make sure you are compltely prepared and have done all the research cause once you get started things move pretty quickly..

 

[lionstorm]

no worries i won't be moving any crushed coral till i have my second QT tank fully opporational for about a month or more if it needs it.