Cleaning Sand when upgrading tanks?

[andresont]

You can use it , just make sure to wash out all the dirt. Or it will spike your nutrient count, and it will lower your ORP very rapidly. Sand beds use a lot of oxygen. Changes like that are not welcomed by the corals so wash it good.
Well, you know you need to use your tank water for washing right?

[Todd]

Originally Posted by andresont

...and it will lower your ORP very rapidly...

What is ORP?

[04scoobysti]

Originally Posted by Todd

What is ORP?

ORP = oxidation reduction potential IIRC

[Reefer Rob]

The best way to remove phosphate is to soak it in RODI water, changing the water every day or two until it has leached out of the sand. (not sure how long) If it was only an SSB, and you aren't keeping SPS I wouldn't worry about it.

[Kronk]

how about using the 10g as a sump and leaving the sand bed as is... thats what i plan to do when i upgrade my 20g to a 33g

[04scoobysti]

I think im going to use the 10 gallon as a hospital/quarintine/frag tank. I just built a stand so i can hide it benieth my 20g. I guess i'll just leave the sand in there, maybe seed a little into the 20 after i wash it.

[Quinster]

When I swapped my 180's, I shoveled (literally with a dust pan) all my sand into pails, did a quick rinse with tank water, then dumped it into the new 180G.

I saved all the old water I could, and put what wasn't in drums holding my rock back into the tank and ran a diatom filter on it for 2 days, stirring it a couple times a day, and changing the bed in the diatom at times every couple of hours when it plugged.

I have not seen any issues in my tank since everything was put back in.

HTH

[04scoobysti]

Originally Posted by andresont

Well, you know you need to use your tank water for washing right?

I thought if i washed it i could use RODI water, and some tank water. I need to save as much water as i can for the Transfer to the bigger tank (going from a 10gal to a 20 gal)