Changing out sand

[jasonp87]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to change out my sand in my tank. The sand I have in there is more like large pieces of crushed coral. There are even whole small shells in there. Because of this I can't add fish like wrasses that burrow or sifting gobies. I have new finer sand that I want to swap the old stuff with but wasn't sure how. I guess the problem isn't really getting the old stuff out (I can just siphon it out) but getting the new stuff in without making a huge mess and upsetting my fish and corals. I can take out some stuff but not much. The sand I'm adding is the Caribsea Arag Alive Fiji Pink (link below for more info).

Any suggestions?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewit...FQqEfgodpx4ALg

[Squid]

I did this by putting the livestock in a holding tank. I then siphoned out the sand and then most of the water. I then put the base rock then new sand then water back in. Turned on the pumps and let the water clear a little before putting livestock back in. This is what worked for me.

[jkennedy1007]

throw a layer about 3 inches thick of fine sand on top

If too much weight or depth

remove 10% 15% with small cup and add on top of existing bed

way easier imo

[jasonp87]

throw a layer about 3 inches thick of fine sand on top If too much weight or depth remove 10% 15% with small cup and add on top of existing bed way easier imo

Interesting idea. Hadn't though of layering it. But how to get the new stuff in without having to take the livestock out?

I looked a little more online and found a guy that used a piece of PVC pipe and a funnel, he would pour a little sand in with the pipe against the bottom of the tank and slowly raise the pipe up so the sand didn't fly everywhere. I'm thinking something like this may be my best bet.

[Bogg]

throw a layer about 3 inches thick of fine sand on top

If too much weight or depth

remove 10% 15% with small cup and add on top of existing bed



way easier imo

+1 I'll just add it at the bottom by the cupful

[SmilinAvnger]

I looked a little more online and found a guy that used a piece of PVC pipe and a funnel, he would pour a little sand in with the pipe against the bottom of the tank and slowly raise the pipe up so the sand didn't fly everywhere. I'm thinking something like this may be my best bet.

This is the best method that I have seen. Pull out the livestock first and then if at all possible remove a majority of the crushed coral. That will probably release a ton of nitrates depending on how old the existing bed is. Then add the new sand and let settle. Check parameters and then re add livestock...

[jasonp87]

The existing sand has only been there a couple months. The tank is still pretty new.

[SmilinAvnger]

I've read it can be good to have different types(sizes of grains) of substrate. Though I have also read bad things about using crushed coral. If you remove the crushed coral, I would still remove the livestock first just to be safe. (keep some of it though so you have the existing bacteria and a sampling of critters that you currently have)

My 2 cents...

[ford4life]

Tyler did this with my PVC pipe a couple months ago . Hit him up for tips. Octoman04

[DaveMorris]

The PVC pipe trick is the way to go. If you use a pipe that is 1.5" it will go pretty easy. Siphon out the old stuff, pipe in the new stuff. It also helps to shut down all flow inside the tank. This means powerbeads, Vortechs, returns everything. Less water movement the better. As far as the sand itself goes, it is a good idea to have several different grain sizes for a healthy sandbed. Different sand fauna like different size grains.