sand

[leaffish75]

Im taking down my 90 and want to relocate the sand to my 40 breeder. how long after i switch the sand before my inhabitants can go back? I only have a 10 gallon QT tank and dont want to keep my eel in it long. I also have to put 2 starfish in it with a pencil urchin.

leaf :evil:

[MikeS]

Is this a DSB you plan to move to another tank?

Mike

[leaffish75]

yes. in the 90 its about 3-4 inches deep now. Once in the 40 it will be alot deeper.

[MikeS]

hmm....how old is the DSB?

Most experts strongly recommend against moving an established DSB to another tank...I'd say I have to agree with that...

Mike

[Angelscrx]

Why is moving a DSB bad? I know that most of the organisms live towards the top so is this why?

[MikeS]

Here's a thread that will give you some more info on DSB's (sort of :D )

http://www.coralforum.com/ftopic1687.html

Although I think that the toxicity of the average DSB is a bit oversted, they do have the potential to have a fair amount of nutrients and undesireable byproducts built up in them. IMO Removing the DSB to another tank will undoubtedy release these and disrupt the anerobic zone. At the very least moving it will "smother" a good deal of the life in the DSB, causing pollution problems.

I'd say a better approach would be to put 3-4" of new sand in the new tank, and carefully remove the upper 2" or so of the old sand bed with a small shovel (like a child's plastic sand scoop) and place it scoop by scoop on top of the new sand. This will re-introduce many of the lifeforms into the new sand, seed the new bed with bacteria, and will hopefully minimize the "smother" effect.

Mike

[Angelscrx]

I like my sandbed. It is getting full of life and it's like having two worlds in one.

[leaffish75]

i thought about that but the sand in the 90 cost me over $100. Its very vine soft sand that was already alive. I really hate to waste some of it.

[MikeS]

i thought about that but the sand in the 90 cost me over $100. Its very vine soft sand that was already alive. I really hate to waste some of it.

I hear ya...

maybe in that case you could save the upper layer, and rinse out the bottom layer well.....you'll lose alot of critters and bacteria, but you'll save the sand...the top layer will reseed the bottom layer eventually....

Mike

[Gringoloco]

I really dont think you should move the substrate IMO. I think as long as you keep it submerged in a layer of tank water you should be ok. But as far as adding the fish in with it. The tank with have to cycle again, so it could be awhile until you can add the fish into the 40 gal.

[leaffish75]

well i know i will cause harm by moving it. but i dont want the 90 to be salt any more.