Changing Substrate

[c1ownfish]

I am looking to change the substrate in one of my 55gal FOWLR. I want to take it from CC to sand. The tank hasn't been setup that long and only has a couple of fish in it with some live rock. It has a trickle filter and skimmer.
What is the best way to get all the CC out?? Do I need to rinse the Southdown before I put it in?? Will the tank need to cycle again?? I can move the LR and Fish to another tank if I need to for awhile but I would like to get this tank ready to get some more fish soon!!

Thanks!
Malia

[MikeS]

how deep is the existing CC?

I added 4 inches of fine aragonite sand on top of my CC about 3 1/2 years ago...no problems so far....

If you decide you want to remove the CC entirely, I'd take out the LR and fish, and drain as much of the water as you can out of the tank, saving it in buckets or whatever...then remove the CC, rinse out the tank, add the southdown ( you can rinse the southdown a bit, but don't overdo it...) put your old water in (plus any new water needed to fill the tank) then relpace the LR and fish.

You will probably experience a minor/medium cycle due to the removal of the substrate, but saving as much of your old water as you can will help minimize this.

Mike

[FishinInTheDark]

If you put an empty garbage bag over your sand, and add the water VERY slowly, you'll have much, much less clouding. The bag will float up as the water level rises, so just take it easy. :wink:

Good luck!

Conni

[cich1]

hey Mike, since the bacteria lives within the rock and substrate would saving the water help minimize the cycle or would it be more benefical to the livestock because they are already assimalted to those water conditions? i'm just curious because i didn't think the bacteria lived in the water column itself

[MikeS]

hey Mike, since the bacteria lives within the rock and substrate would saving the water help minimize the cycle or would it be more benefical to the livestock because they are already assimalted to those water conditions?

Both... :-D

i'm just curious because i didn't think the bacteria lived in the water column itself


yes, the water column has a good deal of bacteria in it as well...

Mike

[SaltyDawg]

I put 60lbs of live sand on top of 30lbs of CC in my tank. No adverse problems. If you take the CC out then the tank will cycle again with the addition of the sand.

When I added the LS to my tank I did it over a period of about a month and never had a cycle. If you are not using Live Sand then you can expect a huge diatom bloom to erupt shortly after you put it in. Even with the LS that I put in I had a bloom but it was very mild and short lived.

[coral_diver]

I also added my sand over my crushed coral and so far it is ok it also built say a base for my DSB and I think it gives a better variety to the substrate since you wont be stirring it so much I would think it to be fine I would leave it also you will keep those critters that have made their way through the crushed coral from the live rock (live crushed coral for lack of a better term). I had no cycle but did have the diatom bloom I used Coralife arag alive water packed sand as it is supposed to add good bacteria and cycle a tank faster if new I thought it sounded good and it is in my oppinion.

[Condiman]

I also added my sand over my crushed coral and so far it is ok it .



The one problem I see with this is that over time the sand will work its way threw the CC and then youll have CC on Top of your sand. When you added your sand did you do it a small portion at a time or did you add it all at once?

[coral_diver]

I added the whole bag then about a week or two later added one more bag for a total of 45lbs. I used a cup to scoop it out of the bag and slowly added it to the bottom though I didn't just dump it in from the bag. I had no problems doing it this way. I havent seen any CC on top of the sand yet and it has been at least 4months I think. I think I can always add more if I feel it is necessary.