I'm going through the same thing with the CC. Here's what I just told someone else to do in another thread. lol
"I'm having the same exact problem with my own 6 month old tank (29 gallon) and I'm choosing to switch to black marine sand (its beautiful and really makes colors pop!). I was told I couldn't keep clams, since they bury their feet in the sand, or sand dwelling corals like brains. Also, I have a diatom issue that my many narci snails can't stir up because of the particles of CC being too large. I know there are other reasons sand is better, having something to do with nitrate gas and what not but I don't know the details about that one.
If you have any corals, especially LPS, take them out too. I would personally take out my fish too just to be safe, but leaving the LR in is fine. Scoop out the CC wearing gloves to avoid bristleworm stings. Leave a couple inches of water in that you can later syphon out, because stirring the CC will bring up a lot of ditrius and silt. Ditch that water and do a small water change to replace it. Then rinse the sand (as long as it's not "live sand") and then put it in to replace the CC. Refill the tank, check parameters, and then when all is good (and it shouldn't be too out of whack) replace your livestock. Have your fish in a temporary QT tank if you can. I'm using a ten gallon for all four of my fish when I do this, but they're all very small and I'm taking out some of the LR to give them temporary hiding places while doing this. I have a snotty damsel that likes to get in everyone's faces."
