Moving Tank - Sand?

[ajmidget]

Moving my 160L tank to another room in the house very soon. I've got containers etc for fish, coral and water whilst we move the tank itself.
I haven't done a water change in the tank in over a year (it's been running for approximately 2 years).
Needless to say there will be tons of detritus and muck in the sandbed, i'd like to avoid disturbing this if possible during the short move. Is it worth keeping the sand or just starting with some fresh sand?

 

[Super Fly]

Moving my 160L tank to another room in the house very soon. I've got containers etc for fish, coral and water whilst we move the tank itself.
I haven't done a water change in the tank in over a year (it's been running for approximately 2 years).
Needless to say there will be tons of detritus and muck in the sandbed, i'd like to avoid disturbing this if possible during the short move. Is it worth keeping the sand or just starting with some fresh sand?

depends whether you want to spend the time while saving $ by rinsing old sand to reuse or just go the easier route with new sand. If it was me and the sandbed isn't very deep, then for convenience I'd go with new sand (besides, my old bad back wouldn't be able to handle sand rinsing, lol). If u go with new sand, make sure to save 1-2 cups of old sand to help seed the new sand.

 

[brandon429]

You should disturb it, back to new, it's the only safe way to move. Rinse it in tap water for two hours before you re use it. If you get new sand, pre rinse that too. Don't transfer or use unrinsed sand

 

[brandon429]

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Johniejumbo]

I would rinse it clean as well. Or replace it.

 

[brandon429]

for sure many people have not rinsed, and it worked ok but the hidden surprise was cyano and algae wars for having destratified a formerly stratified waste layer. There may be a small percentage of those who didnt have outbreaks, but variability is the key. When rinsing above, we have total control over variation. 100% no variation. non rinsing is ? as to the outcome.

 

[Melanie Fish]

I've moved tanks and just rinsed the sand with no problems. I rinsed it with ro water.

 

[andrewey]

I'd remove all the animals first, then remove the sand and rinse it out. Make sure to dechlorinate your sand if rinsing with tap water. If you have the ability, I'd rinse with a garden house outside- it's not fun to have that much sand going down your shower/sink drain .

It's an optional step, but it's easy enough to do, so might as well while you have access right now.