Live Sand

[mattmku]

I have a 20 gallon tank with about 20 lbs of live rock and crushed coral substrate. I'd like to change substrate to sand. If I remove the cc all at once and replace it with 20 lbs of live sand will the tank have to re-cycle?

 

[scuba_steve]

depends on what you consider ls ! the bag stuff or real ls ! if real ya will have some die off but shouldnt be to bad ! bag stuff is garbage imo

 

[bound_for_obx]

I read somewhere about putting sand into a bucket and cycling it with a shrimp. I'll see if I can locate the link.

 

[mattmku]

i was talking about the bag stuff...I'm planning on placing my inhabitants (only a chromis and pep shrimp) in a QT tank for a week or two after making the change. I've also considered a bacterial supplement to jump start the bio filtration again. Will this be effective in the long run or just a temporary fix?

 

[scuba_steve]

well the bag stuff has the bacteria in it already ! koolaids point would be cheaper and would work

 

[scuba_steve]

or is anyone close to you that ya can get some sand from ?

 

[bound_for_obx]

I found the link. It uses flake food as opposed to shrimp, but a shrimp will probably do just as well.

http://www.reef-aquarium.net/

Click on "Educational Resources" and then "Curing Dry Aragonite Sand"
I know it's not exactly what you were looking for but maybe it will help someone else.

 

[mattmku]

thanks...thats what i'll do.

so i'm guessing I can pretty much cycle the sand just like the tank...add an ammonia source and once ammonia and nitrite are 0's i'm good to go. Makes sense.

 

[indy]

That's pretty much all there is to it. Or you could replace the cc w/sand over time. Pull 1/4 of your cc, replace, wait 2 weeks and move on to the next section.