Changing live sand

Myka · #1 02-22-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likwid

I should have mentioned this before, but I plan on leaving about 40% of the current substrate in the tank. All of the substrate under and close to the live rock will remain. My rock is all piled up in the back-center of my tank, so I would be replacing the entire amount of substrate in the front of the tank and the sides. By doing it this way, am I able to take out larger portions at a time each week?

Not unless you want to risk a tank crash. Why do you not want to change all your substrate? The less cc the better.

fishytime · #2 02-22-2009, 03:08 PM

If you leave the cc in, the finer sand will likely just settle through the cc.

Sam1969 · #3 02-22-2009, 03:46 PM

To put the sand in your tank, I use a piece of 4" pvc pipe a little longer than the depth of your tank so the end is just above the water. By placing one end on the bottom glass and the other out of the water, you can then use a measuring cup to dump sand into the pipe and let it settle to the bottom without clouding your water.

Nihoa · #4 02-22-2009, 03:56 PM

im going through the same thing and got some advice on this thread: http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=49335

likwid · #5 02-22-2009, 10:52 PM

So I tried to siphon out the crushed coral, but my tube is not big enough to get it out, as it plugs up within seconds. I tried to scoop it out as well, but it just causes a huge cloud storm. Anyone know where I can get a rubber tube that is around 2 inches in diameter that I can use as a siphon? Can't be PVC or anything hard, as it must be able to bend out of my tank and into my bucket.

zazzoo · #6 02-22-2009, 11:29 PM

what i did was put fine sand on top of the crushed corals.... it was to much wrk for me to remove ... and it works good

... got a fine bed of sand on top of the crushed corals... and looks pretty good with some chunks of crushed corals mixed in

likwid · #7 02-22-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zazzoo

what i did was put fine sand on top of the crushed corals.... it was to much wrk for me to remove ... and it works good

... got a fine bed of sand on top of the crushed corals... and looks pretty good with some chunks of crushed corals mixed in

Ya that's what I am trying to get away from. My substrate right now is crushed coral and fine sand mixed, but no matter what the big chunks always end up on top of the sand and it looks like crap in my opinion.