75G FOWLR issues!

[indigobluetc]

I have a 75 gal FOWLR tank here is the specs:
75 gal tank
70 lbs rock
black live sand
sump filter
2 power heads
Protein skimmer in sump

Fish:
Lion fish around 6" or so big
2 damsels
green spot puffer
choc chip star

Ok so here is my issue and I need some advice. I want to get rid of the black sand and use crushed white coral. I think it will look better and make the tank brighter so all in all a better looking tank. Well I want to know if I take everything out of the tank and get rid of the sand and put the coral in how safe is that? Will it cause the tank to cycle? Will I be ok doing this? Will the fish be ok? I am also thinking of doing a partial water change as well. Any advice on this would be great and help me a lot! Also I have an under ground filter in the tank that I do not use at the moment. Now once I put the coral in could I hook my power heads up to it? Good idea or no? Thanks for any and all help in advance!

[ccCapt]

1st question is how deep is your sand bed now?
If you have a shallow sand bed (1"-3"), you can siphon out about 1/4 of it at a time and replace it with SAND. I do not recommend using crushed coral. If you have a deep sand bed (4"+), I would be leary of disturbing it...unless you drained your tank 1st.
I would not use the undergravel at all.

[cmor1701d]

I agree with cccapt. No on the ujndergrouond filter (remove it fromthe tank). Yes to a sand bed as opposed to CC, especially with a messy eater in the tank.

How long has this tank been set up?
Are you running any other filtration (wet/dry or cannister)?

[indigobluetc]

The sand bed is about 2" thick. The tank has been up for about a year or so.. I have another tank with CC and I like the way it looks so thats why I decided I wanted that instead of sand.. Why do you suggest sand over CC?

[cmor1701d]

CC traps detritus and must be vacuumed regularly and even that might not get it all out. A sand bed doesn't trap it and plays host to a variety or ogranisms that help to break it down. Also sand offers a greater surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize.

[dropin]

sounds like you will have to take the tank down, get yourself 3 large rubbermaid containers and put the water, rock and fish, some in each and then take the sand out and get rid of it. cc traps alot of crap from the fish and any uneaten food, there are lots of different substrates out there, pick one you like. as for the overgravel filter, ditch it. with only 4 fish , i doubt you will go through much of a cyle.

[indigobluetc]

Ok well thanks for the help I think I will stay away form the CC but go with white sand. Right now its black and I just like the way the white looks better. I also just kind of fell in to a 135 gal tank so I might be spending the money on that for now to get it going..

[melosu58]

Congrats on the 135. I agree with the others that sand is the way to go. CC will be alot of added work on you. Good luck.

[roka64]

Why not mix up the sand? I have a little blue sand in my 125 along with the white sand...

[thekeyofb]

Originally Posted by cmor1701d

CC traps detritus and must be vacuumed regularly and even that might not get it all out. A sand bed doesn't trap it and plays host to a variety or ogranisms that help to break it down. Also sand offers a greater surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize.

not to add to your worry, but CC does not buffer your system as well as live sand. CC has been known to breakdown the buffering and cause problems. I would suggest live sand, but if you really want to have CC then I would go with CC that contains aragonite....