Changing from CC to sand

[boreddome]

I am wanting to change from crushed coral to sand but not to sure how I would really do it. I do not have an extra tank for the fish so they will be in the tank through the whole change. I am gonna try to remove the crushed coral with an old net but not to sure how to add the sand. I know it will make the tank cloudy no matter what but is there a preferred way to do it? Another concern is can I use (dead) sand? My tank has been up and running for alittle over a year.
90g tank btw
How many pounds of sand would I need and how deep of a sand bed?
Also open to opinions on what sand to use also. Looking for a white ish sand.

 

[chenzo9999]

why not just add a couple of inches of sand to your rushed coral?

 

[boreddome]

Did not even think about that. And that would stop the huge debris build up in the crushed coral.
How many pounds sand do you think I would need for my 90g tank?

 

[Jaketit]

The cc will eventually rise to the top if the sand again. I started out with cc and hated it after 6 months. One of those things if I'd have researched more I wouldn't have had this problem. I fish netted as much as I could and pored sand in with a PVC pipe and a funnel. I got about 40 percent of the cc out. And put a 40 pound bag on top. And now the cc is comming up from sandsifting stars and nasserith snails. And The tank was a mess for a week. Good luck.

 

[chenzo9999]

I used 40lbs of fine sand in my 90 and it gave me about an inch and a half of coverage

 

[boreddome]

Didn't even think about the cc coming up through the sand. I'm gonna try and get most of the cc out. An do you think I could just add 40lb of "dead" sand?

 

[Jaketit]

I'm sorry dead sand meaning what? I would add a 40 lbs bag of Carib sea live sand it will become (live) in no time. Just turn off any flow in the tank before you add it.

 

[boreddome]

"dead" meaning not buying the over priced live sand with the Bactria in it already.

 

[chenzo9999]

it will take a lot longer to become alive if you add sand while removing all of your current substrate. Maybe doing it in sections will help seeding the dead sand quicker.

 

[boreddome]

Ok thanks for all the help. Will be going to pick up some sand tomorrow. Was looking at getting CaribSea Aragonite Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand it's size is 1-2 mm is that too big? Or will it be fine.