Sand bed ---> bare bottom

[leftme]

How would you go from having a sand bed (~2"-3") to going bare bottom? I don't want to tear the whole tank down or start a new tank. My snails have a hard time with the sand bed and I am having hair algae problems (although phosphates and nitrates are 0) So I am thinking of going bare bottom. Do I still need to have sand in the sump?

Thanks,
Clayton