Cleaning my crushed coral

[Keysman]

Hi I am about to do my first water change in my 55 gal tank now I was wondering when I'm doing a 1/3 tank refill do I clean my ground substrate (crush coral) or will this stir up the ammonia in my tank

 

[Codyheitmiller]

I always vacuum mine and havent seen any change but idk. Could be a better way to do it

 

[Keysman]

So you have to clean it or will my ammonia lvl rise?

 

[austinsdad]

You're gonna have to vacuum it. Might as well do it now and every water change IMO since cc is a notorius place for gunk and higher nitrates over time. So many people try to change it down the road to sand.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

I didn't know that. Learn something new every day

fish are friends not food

 

[mdaniel2882]

Yes...clean it right out of the tank and put in sand. if you don't now you will eventually. It will cause high nitrates.

 

[Codyheitmiller]

My LFS sells live sand that's been in there display tanks for $1 a pound. I know where I'm going.

fish are friends not food

 

[Keysman]

Thanks for the input will have to replace crushed coral with live sand