replacing some sand, anything to watch for?

Charlie97L · 09-14-2006, 11:54 PM

i'm going to be replacing some of the sand in my main tank this weekend, is there anything i should watch out for while working on this?

i plan to siphon out the top half inch or so, stir it up a little, and add some finer grained sand on top.

tank is ~8 months old, doing well. solid params for the most part.

prow · 09-15-2006, 12:05 AM

well you will be disturbing your bio and funa in the current sand so die off will occur to some degree. so i would watch for a ammonia spike and add some good quality carbon. should be smooth. you will get a algae bloom also. but i think that should be short lived. other than that i see no issues. will have to clean everything out from the dust storm it will cause after everything settles. why dont you just add a inch of new sand on top of the current sand?

Charlie97L · 09-15-2006, 12:25 AM

well, that's a thought. hmm.

anyone else have feedback on just adding some new sand?

interesting idea... i'll sleep on it.

mempho reefer · 09-15-2006, 12:29 AM

I agree with prow. If your current sand bed is established and not too deep why disturb it. Also, you can pour the new sand in a five gallon bucket and wash it using a water hose. Then drain it and rinse it with RO. That will cut down on the dust in your water column big time.

lcstorc · 09-15-2006, 12:31 AM

Or removing the sand without too much stirring. Removing it will stress it to begin with and stirring will increase that as well.
Just a thought.
Why are you replacing it anyway? At 8 months old with good water parameters I would leave it alone unless I was trying to raise or lower the level of sand in the tank.

BoomerD · 09-15-2006, 02:15 AM

Also, keep in mind, that 90% of your sand infauna will be in that top inch or so of the sand bed. Removing it, will be depleting the bed of life. Why not just add 1/2 inch of fresh sand every month or so, until you get the level you want? MAYBE lightly siphon the top to remove detritus, but personally, with a tank as new as yours, I wouldn't bother.

Charlie97L · 09-15-2006, 08:55 AM

ok cool, thanks guys... i will do that!!! wow, that saves me some work.

09-14-2006, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	replacing some sand, anything to watch for? i'm going to be replacing some of the sand in my main tank this weekend, is there anything i should watch out for while working on this? i plan to siphon out the top half inch or so, stir it up a little, and add some finer grained sand on top. tank is ~8 months old, doing well. solid params for the most part. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

09-15-2006, 12:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,373 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: replacing some sand, anything to watch for? well you will be disturbing your bio and funa in the current sand so die off will occur to some degree. so i would watch for a ammonia spike and add some good quality carbon. should be smooth. you will get a algae bloom also. but i think that should be short lived. other than that i see no issues. will have to clean everything out from the dust storm it will cause after everything settles. why dont you just add a inch of new sand on top of the current sand?

09-15-2006, 12:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: replacing some sand, anything to watch for? well, that's a thought. hmm. anyone else have feedback on just adding some new sand? interesting idea... i'll sleep on it. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

09-15-2006, 12:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
mempho reefer Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 249 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: replacing some sand, anything to watch for? I agree with prow. If your current sand bed is established and not too deep why disturb it. Also, you can pour the new sand in a five gallon bucket and wash it using a water hose. Then drain it and rinse it with RO. That will cut down on the dust in your water column big time.

09-15-2006, 12:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 21,924 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: replacing some sand, anything to watch for? Or removing the sand without too much stirring. Removing it will stress it to begin with and stirring will increase that as well. Just a thought. Why are you replacing it anyway? At 8 months old with good water parameters I would leave it alone unless I was trying to raise or lower the level of sand in the tank. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

09-15-2006, 02:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: replacing some sand, anything to watch for? Also, keep in mind, that 90% of your sand infauna will be in that top inch or so of the sand bed. Removing it, will be depleting the bed of life. Why not just add 1/2 inch of fresh sand every month or so, until you get the level you want? MAYBE lightly siphon the top to remove detritus, but personally, with a tank as new as yours, I wouldn't bother. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

09-15-2006, 08:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: replacing some sand, anything to watch for? ok cool, thanks guys... i will do that!!! wow, that saves me some work. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

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