Switching sands, SW         4/16/19
Hello helpful friends.
<Hey Jason!>
I did attempt to try first by reading many threads of questions on this but haven't been able to pinpoint an answer so I'm sorry to have to bother you with another question.
<No bother at all, we are glad to help>
I have a 40-gallon breeder saltwater sumpless system that I have been running for about two years. I want to switch the sand out as it is in the "no man's land" category of around 3"deep. It is also a little larger than what is recommended for nitrate reduction. I have the sugar-fine grade coming next week.
<Good>
I have been struggling with too much algae so far. Hair algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, the works. I have two hang-on skimmers and a hang-on refugium. These have been helpful along with weekly water changes but not good enough. I am suspecting my sand has been a detritus trap as I also have not been stirring the sand at all for water changes.
<I suspect the same, sand should be very fine to keep detritus on top for ease of removal.>
So, question is, I have an empty 20-gallon tank with a 20-gallon sump that I could use to temporarily house my livestock while I empty the 40 and replace the sand. Will that be ok? Will it re-cycle when I add the new sand to the 40 and put the old water and livestock back in the 40?
<It will re-cycle but even with “old” water it will take the normal period (4 weeks) for the sand to mature.>
I am also waffling on the new sand depth. I was thinking either 1/2" or 4". But it's only a 40-gallon tank. I think larger tanks can absorb 4"of sand better than smaller tanks. (Aesthetically) What do you think?
<I think that for practical purposes, the 4” will have efficient anaerobic functions and will be the route to go even though it won’t have an aesthetic look; another option could be to use the 20- gallon sump with 4”or even 6”deep sand bed to filter the 40-gallon aquarium, this would be my choice.>
Thanks so much for your invaluable input.
Jason K
<You ’re welcome. Wil. >

Tank Leak Help; sand trtmt.      2/14/18
Having a terrible day and need some help figuring out what to do. I have a 220 gallon reef tank that has been running since 2001. The seam on the bottom right hand corner is leaking and I am replacing the tank asap. My
question is what do I do with the sand bed?
<Scoop it out (squarish plastic... like Tupperware, containers are great here. IF there's a bunch of gunk/mulm interstitially, rinse, throw away most of this, but save some (like 10%) of the substrate un-rinsed for reseeding>
I know I have to use new sand in the tank but how can I do this without clouding the water.
<IF adding some/new sand, RINSE this thoroughly. See WWM re instructions... small batches, clean bucket....>
Replacing the tank and moving all the fish and coral seem easy to me.
Actually looking forward to re-scaping everything.
<Ah, good>
Its the sand part and cloudiness that is making me nervous. I am concerned about killing all the coral.
John
<Should there be too much cloudiness, employ auxiliary particulate filtration for a few days... Outside power filters, more fine filter media/pads in your sump... Bob Fenner>

Live Sand Maintenance     8/24/17
Bob -
I've read your write on live sand maintenance at Live Sand , where you state,
Live Sand
"Maintenance Issues: Should you periodically stir your Live Sand, even vacuum it? In my opinion, yes. A bunch of infauna will die consequently, but the effects of sifting are warranted: removal, reshuffling of mulm, release of trapped gasses, re-assortment of life forms... all make stirring, vacuuming "worth it"."
My question to you, and I realize there's a lot of debate here, e.g.; one camp saying not to vacuum the sand at all, but when you say to vacuum, how deep do you suggest vacuuming the sand? Down to the glass or just at the surface level?
<Were it me, mine, I'd vacuum all the way to the bottom, BUT only half or third of the tank/DSB at a time... alternatively, I'd at least stir (with a wooden or plastic dowel) the whole thing and vacuum the top couple inches.
Bob Fenner>
Thanks, John
Re: Live Sand Maintenance
Bob-
OK. The sand bed in my tanks is on average 2 to 3 inches. So I am not sure if that constitutes a DSB.
<Four inches, 10 cm. plus is about it. Depends on grade mostly>
As I am always reading, learning, trying to maintain the best tanks possible, and for whatever reason I started recently reading more about sand bed maintenance, my new concern (question) is have I been creating potentially deadly issues for my fish by vacuuming the entire tank sand bed from top to bottom?
<Nah; not much/any cause for concern>
I see that you've stated to me to not vacuum the entire tank but only 1/2 or 1/3 of the tank each water change, yet stir up the rest of it with a wooden or plastic dowel.
<Yes; to preserve infauna stocks>
I suspect that will reduce the disruption of beneficial bacteria while not potentially releasing an over abundance of toxins in the water?
<This too>
I do on average 25% water changes in my FOWLR tanks every 3 to 4 weeks (these tanks, except one, includes some noxious soft corals, e.g.; mushrooms, leathers, ...etc.), again, while always vacuuming the entire tank and from top to bottom. Thus far, it has been working thru the years but I am beginning to wonder based upon further reading if I've just been fortunate so far and I've really been playing with fire by my husbandry and eventually I'll either 1) kill off good bacteria and/or 2) stir up and release too many toxins (nitrates, nitrites, ...etc.) that could quickly and negatively impact my water quality despite the water change? Or maybe my sand bed isn't deep enough to where it has mattered that much?
<There is a means and extremes measure here. You do want to have an ongoing static AND disruptive (mild) situation. Too much change can trigger too much negative reaction; too little can allow the same>
Thank you, John
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

DSB Transition      12/5/16 Aloha Bob, I followed your tip and remove all the black cinders from the first stage of my sump. <Good> Together with installing a GFO reactor I have gotten the phosphates down from 5 to <.25. Here's a pic of my DT, which I may keep shallow and vacuumed then install a DSB remotely. <Very good> Do you like the idea of a giant Rubbermaid tub DSB\Refugium as part of this system. <Yes I do. These are MIGHTY fine products... sturdy, easy to modify, chemically inert... and cheap per volume> Looks like Cyano keeps creeping in . <Time going by here... Patience!> Still no coralline with 12KDH. Using RI water now with lots of water changes. Only has come down from 14- high KDH is still a mystery. <Time here as well> I plan to add a few inches to my sump, regardless. In the next image you can see my current second chamber of my outdoor sump. There are some layers of cinders in there and lots of life. <I see> My main question is do I remove all that sand pictures in my sump, since it may have trapped phosphates- then leave a little bit to re-seed the coral sand? Or do you feel it's safe to just place new sand atop this and not stir things up too much? <The latter is the route I'd go> Keep in mind I have plenty of room outside to plumb in a new sump or remote DSB. Would you replace the 20gal sump with a 36-90 since I have the room? My DT is 100g. Mahaloz! <I would ALWAYS make sumps, refugiums, DSBs... As LARGE as possible> Sky Kubby <Bob Kubby>

Too view of sump.      12/5/16 This goes with my last two emails for perspective.... <Ok> Sky Kubby

DSB replacement cont...      12/5/16 Here's a couple more follow up pics show the close up of the layer of black cinders in the sand bed. Remove or safe to cover with more sand? <Safe to cover> Also note the precarious positioning of my sump on the ledge. This is why I'm thinking of replacing it with a long larger sup against the back with a proper base. Do you agree or think this will suffice? Thanks! <I'd replace w/ larger w/ proper base for sure. BK> Sky Kubby

Re: DSB Transition      12/5/16 Perfect, thanks! Since I’m solar powered I’m going to gravity drain from this sump into the RubberMaid via a 2” pipe, or something, so as not to add an extra pump and possible failing system. <You are wise here> Or better yet, use this sump inside the (250g?) RubberMaid, as a pump return chamber! ;-) <!> By the way I see you replied Bob Kubby. Is this a typo, or a long-lost relative!? LOL! <Just pulling your fins, BobF> In Radiant Health, Sky Kubby

Substrate Confusion - Shallow Tank Coral Placement      11/28/16
Good morning, I've spent about an hour searching through your FAQ's and information on sandbeds and crushed coral, etc... I find that I'm still confused.
<Let's see...>
I have a shallow 60g tank that has 46g of "live area" - it's an Innovative Marine, so the additional gallons are hosted in the equipment alley along the back.
<Well-stated>
I have around 60lbs of liverock, some of which I keep in the equipment alley slots (away from pumps) for the added filtration and have aquascaped nicely to allow flat areas for eventual coral placement. My question is, I don't have the vertical space for a deep sand bed in this shallow tank.
I've elected to go with crushed coral and have approximately 2.5" along the bottom. I'll start with FOWL system and after I am confident with the equipment I've purchased, livestock, general care and maintenance, I'll proceed to add corals in 7mths after a summer holiday.
<Sounds/reads good thus far>
Questions...
1. I have 2.5" of crushed coral, if I reduced that to 1" it would allow an extra inch of swim room if I did. Is there any other advantage or disadvantage to reducing my crushed coral bottom?
<A bit easier to vacuum, stir, clean... less digging space if you have animals that do so>
I wasn't sure on what critters I'd want, thus initially elected to go with 2.5" but now am re-thinking. Anything else I need to watch with crushed coral bottom of that depth at 2.5"?
<Not really; no. Not much chance for issues with anaerobic decomposition>
2. Does crushed coral HAVE TO be vacuumed?
<Mmm; depends on a few factors... the size, shape of the grains/pieces, circulation, how much your livestock may tumble, AND the chance introduction of interstitial organisms. Re this last: folks can get lucky and have "pods" and much more live twixt grains... and these will reduce to eliminate the need to vac>
In your FAQ's you mention all the beneficial organisms that will be vacuumed up.
3. Are there ideal critters that will help maintain a crushed coral bottom?
<Ah, yes. A myriad of life forms... worms, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms and much more. Some will definitely "derive" from your live rock>
obviously I'm saying NO to a sandsifting star, but what about Nassarius snails in crushed coral?
<These are excellent burrowers>
4. What is the ideal space from top of liverock to water level for most corals?
<Mmm; depends on species, lighting (intensity mostly)>
I will have 360W Kessil LED's, thus can alter my intensity if needed. I believe I currently have 5-7".
<This is fine for most varieties... Some LPS, Fungiids... you may want to place near the bottom or on it>
Thanks again, you guys are awesome!
Dave
<Glad to assist your efforts. Bob Fenner>

DSB question         7/12/16
Hello from Indiana. I have a 4in DSB that is 6 years old, and due to a slow leak in my 55gal tank, I need to relocate the occupants. I'm sure the question has been answered somewhere in the forums but I couldn't quite find specific directions on moving the DSB to a new tank. Given the age of the DSB I suspect I need to discard most of it but want to maximize the number of pods, miscellaneous critters and helpful bacteria that I take along. How deep of sand can I safely collect for transfer and any tips on gathering up the most detritivores (i.e. collect at night, put out food)?
<I'd scrape off the top two inches or so, and place this on top of all new fine sand... See here for much more:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dsbmaint.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>
Thanks
Sarah

reusing current sand bed      6/21/16
i am resetting-up my 55 gal and will be creating a reef tank.
my 2” sand bed is OLD (maybe 8 yrs?). can i remove the sand, thoroughly wash it, and reuse it?
<Yes... some are better re-used than others... for various functions... Like buffering pH, providing soluble alkaline earths (Ca, Mg...)>
i want a 4” bed so if i can reuse the old, should i mix new with old, or replace old (washed) and top with new?
<Ah yes; a good plan. Gone over on WWM btw. Bob Fenner>
thanks in advance
ken baker
Deep sand bed question        6/22/16
I took my 55 gal marine tank down so I could remove many scratches (acrylic!) and wash the gravel. I had a 2" bed and want to add more substrate to create a DSB.
<I recall>
Without doing enough research here (shame on me) I purchased another 2" worth of the same substrate--tropic Eden reeflakes, 2-3mm. After belated research I now see that I should be using much finer substrate.
<Would be better, but...>
So--can I top this 4" of flakes with 2" of aragonite sand, or mix 2" of sand with the top 2" of flakes, or just go with the 4" of flakes and take other maintenance precautions?
<I'd just go ahead and mix all... as it will be in time. BobF>
Thanks in advance!!
Ken baker

Temporary Move of Tanks; and re-use of old/er substrate        8/15/15
Good morning. I've just spent about an hour reading through your tank moving threads but haven't really found the answers I need as my situation is somewhat different than just a one time move.
Here are the facts;
We are redoing the flooring in the room that houses my two tanks, a 75 freshwater planted tank and a 125 gallon, DSB Reef tank with Live rock and corals. In planning for this move I have re-homed all of the fish already.
The 75 gallon freshwater planted tank has a 3 inch soil bed with an inch of large grain gravel on top. I am hoping this is a small enough set up to simply drain it down to the gravel level, move it, refill it,
<Get some help lifting!>
then repeat the process three or four days later when the flooring is done. I recently did this with a 72 bow front at our boat club and only lost about half of the plants but that was due to not being able to refill the tank in between.
The 125 is another story. The plan is to keep the live rock and corals in a 30 gallon bin and run one of the existing and seasoned mechanical filters on it for the duration. The 5 inch sand bed and plenum are the concern.
<Most of this I'd scoop out... the top few inches siphon into flat containers (best, Rubbermaid trough/s), under an inch or so, just scoop most out, rinse ahead of replacing in the tank>
I am almost of the opinion, since it is an aged system (7 years old or so), to simply discard the entire sand bed and take this opportunity to scrub out the plenum etc.
<Likely a good/opportune time to switch out... again, I'd save, re-use the top inch>
I may try to save the top layer but I am not sure how much of the assorted worms, copepods etc will actually survive two moves in less than a week.
<Some, enough>
In your opinion, is complete replacement the correct method?
<I'd save.... the top>
I'm thinking the tank itself, at 6 feet, is too large to attempt to leave everything on the bottom and move it without the risk of breakage.
<Yes.... as in your backs!>
Opinions, thoughts?
<Our businesses did such moves MANY times... Remember the great expediter that is bier and pizza/BBQ>
Thanks again for all of your help.
<Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Beth

Addition of fresh live sand to 2 yr old tank         6/1/15
Hello my dear experts! one just cannot thank you enough for the stuff we learn all the time from your website! I need a little guidance....I have a 2 yr old 35g mixed reef tank with a 2-3 inch sand bed but I am afraid they are not uniformly distributed anymore. Have gradually lost some during water change over the yrs and some parts moved around by my reef lobster. I
would like to add some new sand to those parts and have bought CaribSea Fiji pink LS (ca 5kg) bag same as original layer. Qs is, do I simply add the new LS slowly into my tank or need to rinse the new sand to remove its bacterial fauna before addition as my tank might have its own kind? The rinsing theory was suggested by a rerouted LFS in Orlando...As always very thankful for your thoughts...br Kaustuv from Denmark
<Can be simply rinsed and added over, mixed in... Read here re: http://wetwebmedia.com/SubstReplF4.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

DSB for new 150gal setup     1/13/15
Hello. I am starting a new 150gal FOWLR aquarium and want to do a DSB of 4".
<Sounds good>
I was able to secure 120lbs of Carib sea special grade sand 1-2mm at next to nothing from a friend (he aborted his set up 3 mo.s ago and had it sitting in his basement). Would it be a bad idea to get 2" worth of live sand, of a smaller grain size, put that down first and then put the Carib special grade on top to make up the sand bed?
<I'd just get more fine sand as you have already, and have some (a few ten lbs.) of good Live Rock seed all. IF instead you decide to buy some Live Sand, DO place it/this on top of the new/non-live; NOT under>
Or given the 120lbs of special grade that I have, would you recommend doing something else?
<Yes; as stated>
Thanks, I LOVE this forum.
<Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Re: DSB for new 150gal setup. Rdg     1/13/15
Thanks for the quick reply! Just a quick follow-up, I thought the 1-2mm size of the special grade was too big for the anaerobic portion of the DSB(hence my first thought of putting finer sand below it). Is the 1-2mm size that I have acceptable for the entire DSB? thanks again.
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/marsetupindex1.htm
scroll down to.... B>

Moving my 24g reef     12/3/14
Hi there. I will be moving my reef next week from Southern CA to San Francisco and have been preparing and researching over the past month or so.
<Good>
I plan to have lots of mixed and heated saltwater ready at the new apartment in SF. I plan to move my four fish in a RubberMaid with heater and airstone and a couple pieces of live rock, but am hung up on what to do with my live sand.
<If it's... "clean", just move it with a bit of water on top>
I keep reading that I need to rinse or throw it out, because exposing it to O2 will cause an ammonia spike.
<Nah>
However, with such a small cube, I wouldn't have to disturb the sand bed, and will be able to move the tank with a couple inches of water and sand left in it. Is there a reason this will not work?
<VERY likely will work>
Thank you!
Nick
<Welcome! Bob Fenner>
Re: Moving my 24g reef     12/4/14
Great!! Thank you very much.
<Bon voyage Nick! BobF>