The conversion from CC to LS

[jay knows]

So I am thinking of converting CC to LS.... Do you think it is really worth the trouble?
I need some information on this....SHoiuld I remove the CC and then add the sand or do it all at one time?
Anyone have information on LS that is packaged with argonite and is also packaged in water?
Is it totally true that I will not ever have to vacuum the LS bed? How does the waste from fish get processed or removed from the tank?
HELP

 

[mbrands]

Thats a lot of questions for one posting, but I'll do my best to answer them all for you.
1. Yes, it is worth the trouble! I had CC in my 55 for about a month and was shocked at the nasty gung that had already accumulated.
2. I did mine in increments. I took about 1/4-1/5 of the CC out per session, doing no more than 2 sessions per week. I always tested the water 24 hours after removing the CC because the water would cloud and I wanted to make sure it was still safe. I did not remove anything (fish, cleaners, etc) while doing this. After the tank was bare bottom, I added all my sand at once. Others have done the "all at once" approach and it did work for them. I was just scared what I might be releasing to do it all at once.
3. I'm not sure what you are referring to. I used a plain dry aragonite based sand in mine, not live. The LR will eventually make it live (over 6 months or more).
4. You can't vacuum it. The sand is far lighter than CC or gravel and would get sucked up. You much depend on your cleaners to keep it clean. So far, I haven't had any issues.
Good luck!

 

[crooper]

My crushed coral is only about 0.5" thick on average (and most often covered in algae). Can I just get some sand and pour it over the top of the cc? Should I use live or can I get away with non-live sand?
My fish-only tank is very empty right now, with only 4 small fish. I don't have any cleaners but the tank is established. Should I do a sand conversion before I get cleaners?

 

[loopy]

your sand will sink to the bottom, your cc will stay on top, then requiring you still clean the cc. I would take it out. You don't have to get live, it's up to you. Some fish depend on live rock and live sand for food....so it depends on your fish. My sand, way down under my cc is live...and the cc is on it's way out, I have very little live rock and am getting more, but also hoping the 'dead' rock will become live.
Personally, I don't really know about the cleaner/sand question, but I would do it before, jmo.
Good Luck.

 

[crooper]

Are there any issues with regard to the biological stuff that exists in/on my cc that wouldn't be present in non-live sand? Or is there nothing on the coral that of any real interest to my fish and/or future cleaners? Is the bacteria on the bioballs in my sump all that's really important?
BTW I do not have an undergravel filter setup.

 

[jcarroll]

I switched from cc to ls before my tank was cycled so I did it all at once. I just moved everything to one side of the tank and scooped out the cc with the cup, then I added the sand. I did have some damsels in there at the time and they are all fine. You don't have to put all ls in there. As long as you put the ls on the top so that the dead sand doesn't suffocate the ls. In my 55 I have 40 lbs dead and 20 lbs ls on top. The packaged with water sand is what I used. It took almost a week to look crystal clear in my tank again, but I think it looks a lot better than cc
About your quest. on the bacteria, from what I understand, the problem with cc is it traps nitrates, which will kill your fish, so I would say there's no bacteria that is beneficial that you would be getting rid of. I would not change it all at once because you would release too many nitrates. Unless, you stir your cc regularly, then it may not pose a problem. If your cc has just been sitting there without being vaccuumed or stirred then it is probably full of nitrates and you'd need to remove it very slowly and constantly test your levels. That's all I've got, good luck