changing substrate

[tgisue]

Hi y'all

We have a 52 gallon tank we set up two months ago. Our lfs advised us to use crushed coral as a substrate which we used. It is only an inch thick but have noticed detrius collecting and we are having to siphon each water change.
We are now thinking about switching the crushed coral for a sand base, although saying that we didnt want to go for a dsb. Our tank inhabitants currently consist of 10 hermits, 15 snails, 1 cucumber, 2 cleaner shrimps and a coral banded shrimp. We also have a couple of soft corals and a flower pot coral. What we need to know is what is the best way to replace the substrate and is it likely to affect our inhabitants.
:roll:
Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to RDO!

Before I try and answer your question I have a couple for you. Has your tank fully cycled? How much live rock do you have if any and what type of filtration, if any? How is the water currently testing for nitrates, etc.?

I see the tank has been set up for only two months, and my concern is that if you pull the substrate out before tank is cycled and the rock is cured and stable you may cause a second cycle and that wouldn't be good for your tank's occupants.

If the tank appears through water testing to be stable and fully cycled, you can change out the substrate I think without causing too much disuption. But it is a huge messy operation. Not difficult, just an icky job that needs lots of clean containers and a few hours time.

First, you'd need to have the new sand substrate washed up and ready to put into the tank, as you can't have a lot of silt kicking around when you put your critters back into the tank. You can't ever rinse sand enough to get all the little particles out but do the best you can.

You'll also need either more clean trash cans or some type of clean plastic containers/buckets for all of your critters and the live rock. Also try and keep as much of the exisiting tank water as you can for stability so plan for that. I also like to have at least 50% of the tanks volume in new water sitting around ready to go just in case of emergency.

So, you'd drain off some tank water, put the live rock in a container; maybe put the coral aside in its own container in case the rock shifts. Put more tank water into a container for your inverts, and drain off the majority of what's left into the containers you've got for that purpose. I'd throw out the last 2-3 inches of the water in the tank, which would have more guck in it because of the substrate. Pull out the old substrate, a plastic food colander/spaghetti drainer bought just for this purpose works well as a scoop. Time is important here, unless you plan on putting airstones and heaters in the containers with your livestock.

Put down the new substrate, add back the old tank water mixing it with new water (be sure to test the SG before you add anything back into the tank!). Arrange the rocks, put back the critters and away you go!

Of course in the alternative, you can cut down on the gunk collecting in your existing substrate by siphoning it out during water changes and increasing water flow in the tank.


Hope this helps!

 

[tgisue]

Thanks for such a detailed reply!

Yes my tank has cycled, we have about 20kg live fiji rock, deltec mce600 skimmer and only have a filter that came with the juwel tank. I didnt realise changing substrate would be so messy but I guess it would be better to do it at this stage than after fish have been added!

 

[Anonymous]

Actually it is much better to change it out without any fish and a whole lot easier than trying to caught that $#(*$*(#*#* (whatever) fish :lol:

Oh one more thing, if you're rinsing the new substrate in clorinated water you should put declorinator in either the bucket you are keeping the washed sand in or in the first bucket of water you put back into the tank.

Have fun!

 

[DOGMAI]

You can actually get a 3/8" clear hose and suck all the sand out. If you start a syphon with the hose like you were going to syphon out water and then put it down to the saind it will suck it out quite quickly and you dont have to take everything out of your tank.

If the substrate is large you can use a bigger hose too. it works quite well. Have it all dump into a garbage can and then when you are done or the tank gets low you can put the water from the garbage can back into the tank.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[tgisue]

Thanks for all your replies.

Would I have to add live sand or just a regular marine sand?

 

[Anonymous]

Regular sand, don't waste money on live sand. In time it will become "live" sand by migration from the live rock. Or better yet, get a cup or two of sand from a local reefer to seed your new bed.

 

[Anonymous]

Good reply, L D.
I try to wash my substrate with water that is the same temp as the tank water. This time of year if the sand is washed with a garden hose and then dumped in the tank it will chill the tank.
Andy