Can I replace all my sand?!?!

[Pixie22]

I’m new to saltwater and bought a reef aquarium that’s a few years old. There is a horrible reddish stuff growing over everything which I’m guessing is Cyanobacteria. A worker at my LFS said it was probably due to the black sand. I really hate the look of the black sand in there anyway and am wanting to put in a light colored sand. If I remove everything and save the current water in it (everything but sand in buckets), can I remove all that sand and replace it with other sand? Do you suggest live sand, nonliving sand, or a mix? Is this safe to do and if so how should I do it? Thanks! I’d really appreciate any advice!

 

[King Turkey]

Yes you can. The red stuff you are correct cyno. You have any inhabitants in the tank. You could drain scoop replace.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

You can replace the sand, but you would want to do it in stages. Over the course of 4-6 water changes remove the existing sand until you're bare bottom. Then to minimize cloudiness issues when you're ready to put the new sand in, kill the lights, drain the tank capturing about 90% of the tank water into reef safe containers as well as your fish. Then add your new sand in careful to not stir it up much. Then start pumping your reclaimed water back in making sure to not stir up the new sand bed to minimize the silt and cloudy tank. Once the tank is 50% put the fish back in and use the clarifying agent that comes with the new sand and be ready to change out your filter socks a few times.

You'll have to deal with a mini cycle so you will probably want to use something like SeaChem Stability to boost the beneficial bacteria. Also the use of live sane would minimize any diatom or ciano bloom issues. As for me, I am a fan of CaribSea Bimini Pink live sand.

 

[Billldg]

You can, but remember that the tank bacteria lives in the sand and rock, so you will likely have a mini cycle when replacing your sand. If you remove all the water, which you would have to do to remove the sand, you might as well put in new fresh saltwater, water doesn’t hold much bacteria.

Personally, I like CaribSea Special grade live sand.

 

[brandon429]

Removed

 

[Pixie22]

You can replace the sand, but you would want to do it in stages. Over the course of 4-6 water changes remove the existing sand until you're bare bottom. Then to minimize cloudiness issues when you're ready to put the new sand in, kill the lights, drain the tank capturing about 90% of the tank water into reef safe containers as well as your fish. Then add your new sand in careful to not stir it up much. Then start pumping your reclaimed water back in making sure to not stir up the new sand bed to minimize the silt and cloudy tank. Once the tank is 50% put the fish back in and use the clarifying agent that comes with the new sand and be ready to change out your filter socks a few times.

You'll have to deal with a mini cycle so you will probably want to use something like SeaChem Stability to boost the beneficial bacteria. Also the use of live sane would minimize any diatom or ciano bloom issues.

As the sand isn’t black right now I’d want to add all the new sandbox at the same time. So each water change I remove a bit of sand till there’s no sand in the tank? And are filter socks the fabric type thing I put in?

 

[ectoaesthetics]

Not so fast! Don't rip it all out yet! Sooo many questions. How long has the tank been up in your possession? Is it currently stable? What do you have living in it? What size is the tank -both gallons and dimensions (looking to see what % of your bioload is in your sand)? Also how deep is the bed? How much rock is in the tank? Any other biofiltration?

I have loads of questions and I will fill you in as to why. If your tank is SUPER empty and you bought it as pretty much a LR and LS setup I say go for it and just know you are in for a MAJOR algae outbreak while your tank rediscovers its groove. This is only if you bed isn't super deep, or a giant percentage of your bioload. But If that was the case and the tank is being sold post crash I would do it all at once (have LOTS of opinions as to how I would do it as well). BUT if the tank is established and you bought it because it is full of coral and looking good it is probably the fact that the tank is just stabilizing after the move. You can still replace the sand -SLOWLY- and even slowly expect to loose some things and have algae outbreaks. Lots of opinions as to how to do that too.

Try not to think of bacterial outbreaks (including cyano or cloudy water) as THE ISSUE. The instability of the tank is the issue and the outbreak is an attempt by your tank to correct before it crashes. Think of it as a warning sign AND it's own way of self medicating. That is one of the biggest lessons for those new to the hobby to learn. It is difficult as when we are new we immediately want to take care of the "unsightly" issue. The key is always to find the root cause -and sometimes even to do nothing.

If ya take the time to answer the above I can give you some pretty pointed advice.

 

[Pixie22]

Not so fast! Don't rip it all out yet! Sooo many questions. How long has the tank been up in your possession? Is it currently stable? What do you have living in it? What size is the tank -both gallons and dimensions (looking to see what % of your bioload is in your sand)? Also how deep is the bed? How much rock is in the tank? Any other biofiltration?

I have loads of questions and I will fill you in as to why. If your tank is SUPER empty and you bought it as pretty much a LR and LS setup I say go for it and just know you are in for a MAJOR algae outbreak while your tank rediscovers its groove. This is only if you bed isn't super deep, or a giant percentage of your bioload. But If that was the case and the tank is being sold post crash I would do it all at once (have LOTS of opinions as to how I would do it as well). BUT if the tank is established and you bought it because it is full of coral and looking good it is probably the fact that the tank is just stabilizing after the move. You can still replace the sand -SLOWLY- and even slowly expect to loose some things and have algae outbreaks. Lots of opinions as to how to do that too.

Try not to think of bacterial outbreaks (including cyano or cloudy water) as THE ISSUE. The instability of the tank is the issue and the outbreak is an attempt by your tank to correct before it crashes. Think of it as a warning sign AND it's own way of self medicating. That is one of the biggest lessons for those new to the hobby to learn. It is difficult as when we are new we immediately want to take care of the "unsightly" issue. The key is always to find the root cause -and sometimes even to do nothing.

If ya take the time to answer the above I can give you some pretty pointed advice.

It is a 28 gallon jbj system. The tank wasn’t in the best shape when I got it, I could barely see inside as it was so covered with growths. Probably about a inch and a half of black sand. In it I have two clowns, a wheelers goby, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs and snails. Some corals too. Not sure how much live rock but here’s a picture of the tank if you’d be able to estimate. I’ve had the tank in my possession for about a month now. The Cyanobacteria is starting to cover up my corals and everything. I’ll need to check the levels to see what everything is at. The pictures are a bit outdated, the bacteria is much worse now.

 

[Pixie22]

It is a 28 gallon jbj system. The tank wasn’t in the best shape when I got it, I could barely see inside as it was so covered with growths. Probably about a inch and a half of black sand. In it I have two clowns, a wheelers goby, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs and snails. Some corals too. Not sure how much live rock but here’s a picture of the tank if you’d be able to estimate. I’ve had the tank in my possession for about a month now. The Cyanobacteria is starting to cover up my corals and everything. I’ll need to check the levels to see what everything is at. The pictures are a bit outdated, the bacteria is much worse now.

There is quite a lot of rock in it. I can take an updated picture of everything going on and the amount of rock if that would help.

 

[ectoaesthetics]

At the one month mark I would say that it is highly *highly* likely that the tank is just simply re-stabilizing. If it were me I would do nothing. I would just let the tank find its new groove with its new owner. A lot of things change during a move (I have moved several tanks -even moved tanks across the country). Things take time to find their groove again. Add in the fact that the tank has a new owner: new feeding schedule, new maintenance routines etc and it is going to have to rebalance.

If you pull the sand and replace it it will essentially be like starting a new tank with great rock. The system will not see it any differently. If you had NO fish and no coral I would absolutely do it... but given the bio load I think you have two real options: 1) let everything stabilize and run the tank as is. Possibly with the idea of slowly replacing the bed at a much later date (more to come later). 2) Start slowly -very slowly- pulling the sand now... But know that it is going to take a much much longer time for your tank to find its stride.

If I were a new reefer I think I would want to have more success up front. So I personally would opt for the let it stabilize now option. However, if you feel compelled to pull the sand I would do it very slowly -or you will probably loose livestock. You will also be facing algae outbreaks for some time as you pull the sand as well. I would replace it with any aragonite dry sand out there. You will NOT need live sand, and I think it will do more harm than good to add dying or dead bacteria to your tank from the live sand. You have a full sand bed in the tank that will VERY quickly seed the sand you are adding to the tank. While it will seed quickly, it will take time to balance....

Hope this helps.

 

[Pixie22]

At the one month mark I would say that it is highly *highly* likely that the tank is just simply re-stabilizing. If it were me I would do nothing. I would just let the tank find its new groove with its new owner. A lot of things change during a move (I have moved several tanks -even moved tanks across the country). Things take time to find their groove again. Add in the fact that the tank has a new owner: new feeding schedule, new maintenance routines etc and it is going to have to rebalance.

If you pull the sand and replace it it will essentially be like starting a new tank with great rock. The system will not see it any differently. If you had NO fish and no coral I would absolutely do it... but given the bio load I think you have two real options: 1) let everything stabilize and run the tank as is. Possibly with the idea of slowly replacing the bed at a much later date (more to come later). 2) Start slowly -very slowly- pulling the sand now... But know that it is going to take a much much longer time for your tank to find its stride.

If I were a new reefer I think I would want to have more success up front. So I personally would opt for the let it stabilize now option. However, if you feel compelled to pull the sand I would do it very slowly -or you will probably loose livestock. You will also be facing algae outbreaks for some time as you pull the sand as well. I would replace it with any aragonite dry sand out there. You will NOT need live sand, and I think it will do more harm than good to add dying or dead bacteria to your tank from the live sand. You have a full sand bed in the tank that will VERY quickly seed the sand you are adding to the tank. While it will seed quickly, it will take time to balance....

Hope this helps.

Thanks so much! I think I’ll wait and let it stabilize. The main concern now is that the Cyanobacteria will kill my corals and destroy the tank... I can add a picture of it later.

 

[Pixie22]

Thanks so much! I think I’ll wait and let it stabilize. The main concern now is that the Cyanobacteria will kill my corals and destroy the tank... I can add a picture of it later.

ALso, I’ve been trying to syphon up stuff in the sand as it’s full of debris. Is the sifting up of the bacteria causing a spike? And I do want to change the sand to light sand eventually, so when should I do that? I there anything I can do now or just regular water changes?

 

[lapin]

My ipinion;
It would be best to replace the sand. Read brandon's threads. No matter what sand you get, be sure to rinse it a lot. You do not want fine particles floating around your tank every time the sand is disturbed.

 

[ectoaesthetics]

LOL yeah not to offer up contradicting advice, but I also agree that I have absolutely never had any success in a tank with black sand. Just know that if you pull it and replace it it will be like starting a new tank. Is there anywhere you can send the fish to live for a couple of months?

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I don't believe this was said. Removing the sand and replacing because you don't like the look of it is absolutely valid. Removing the sand thinking it will eliminate your cyanobacteria problem is incorrect. Cyanobacteria typically needs higher nutrients with very little flow to thrive. Your new sand will have the exact same coverage of cyanobacteria as your current sand. I would focus on testing all parameters and resolving the cause first, which would include adding additional flow. Then would replace the sand. The sand does serve as biological filtration, removing it can be a destabilizing event.

 

[brandon429]

edit

 

[Pixie22]

LOL yeah not to offer up contradicting advice, but I also agree that I have absolutely never had any success in a tank with black sand. Just know that if you pull it and replace it it will be like starting a new tank. Is there anywhere you can send the fish to live for a couple of months?

I can see if there’s somewhere the fish and coral can go for a bit. Here’s some pictures I just took of the tank today... will it’s hurt my corals?!?! And if I do decide to just go and remove everything and replace sand, any suggestions of things I should add to the tank or precautions for recycling it while the fish corals and rock are in it?

 

[Pixie22]

LOL yeah not to offer up contradicting advice, but I also agree that I have absolutely never had any success in a tank with black sand. Just know that if you pull it and replace it it will be like starting a new tank. Is there anywhere you can send the fish to live for a couple of months?

I can see if there’s somewhere the fish and coral can go for a bit. Here’s some pictures I just took of the tank today... will it’s hurt my corals?!?! And if I do decide to just go and remove everything and replace sand, any suggestions of things I should add to the tank or precautions for recycling it while the fish corals and rock are in it?

 

[Ed Hutchings]

Nice to see at least one person had the wherewithal to ask some questions before just stating factually "yes you can change out all your sand".

I'd change it a little at a time. Move all the existing sand to one side, so the tank bottom is exposed on one side. Add in some new sand, maybe a couple cups. Give it a few days, then remove a couple cups of old sand. Do this slowly over a period of weeks. You'll have the least amount of "swing" in water quality. Rinse your new sand good in RO water before adding. Add some new, then remove some old. This will give the system time to slowly inoculate the new sand with beneficial bacteria.

Being new to saltwater aquariums and reef keeping, this method will keep you from throwing your system into a new mini cycle (probably is in the middle of one now) or even worse, into shock. Once you disturb it so drastically, you'll end up back here asking how to get your nutrients down, and end up in a cycle of adding chemicals, etc. to try to rapidly get it to come around. Patience is a virtue, especially in this hobby.

 

[Pixie22]

Nice to see at least one person had the wherewithal to ask some questions before just stating factually "yes you can change out all your sand".

I'd change it a little at a time. Move all the existing sand to one side, so the tank bottom is exposed on one side. Add in some new sand, maybe a couple cups. Give it a few days, then remove a couple cups of old sand. Do this slowly over a period of weeks. You'll have the least amount of "swing" in water quality. Rinse your new sand good in RO water before adding. Add some new, then remove some old. This will give the system time to slowly inoculate the new sand with beneficial bacteria.

Being new to saltwater aquariums and reef keeping, this method will keep you from throwing your system into a new mini cycle (probably is in the middle of one now) or even worse, into shock. Once you disturb it so drastically, you'll end up back here asking how to get your nutrients down, and end up in a cycle of adding chemicals, etc. to try to rapidly get it to come around. Patience is a virtue, especially in this hobby.

Thanks for the info! And since I will be changing sand color, any suggestions on how I can keep them separate in the tank while I’m slowly replacing? I would rather not have light sand with black specs in it.