Changing Substrates

[c1ownfish]

Ok... So I have had my tank setup for about 4 years... Currently it has a CC substate... I am in the process of getting it setup for corals... So I have been thinking about changing from CC to Sand... How would I go about this?? There is about 120lbs of LR, 10 fish, and a few inverts... Do I need to take everything out or can I do like 1/2 the tank and then the other 1/2??

Thanks for suggestions!

[MikeS]

here's my advice on this.....and I'm sure you will get other opinions....if at all possible, don't remove your existing substrate. are you looking to do a denitrifying DSB? if so, than just remove your rock....and add sand on top of the CC to the desired depth. I did this with my reef about 3 years ago, and it had worked well. I have 2" CC and 4" aragonite sand on top of it. I have had absolutely no problems with this setup, nitrates always test zero.
MikeJS