Replacing Rock and Sand in established reef tank

[Snoop_90]

Hi,

I have an established 250 gallon reef tank. However I've had a Aiptasia outbreak and lots of bristle worms. I've always hated my rock work and wanted to change it up. Thinking of getting all new rock for a better aquascape.

My question is what would be the best and safest method to swap the rocks out? I was thinking of putting all the new rocks(white rocks not alive) in a brute container with a wavemaker and heater for a few weeks. Hoping the rocks will be cured by then. I plan to remove all the rocks and sand. Placing the corals, fish, and inverts in a giant container temporarily. Adding in the new rock and new sand, followed by corals and fish. Figured it would be best to try to do this all in one day. I'm just scared of any complications or problems.

Any suggestions or advice?

 

[OceanJack]

That's a lot of work for something that can be remedied a lot simpler, I would be worried about starting a mini-cycle even with all the prep work you're doing.

How bad are the aiptasia? Massive? or just a bunch of little ones?
For the Aiptasia, I'd pull the rocks and hit them with a torch lighter and then get a bunch of nudibranches that eat them.

For the bristle worms, you can always just trap them. Get a dryer mesh bag with some meat and leave it in the tank lights off at night and then just yank out the worms. Or get an Arrowcrab to eat them.

 

[exnisstech]

I rescaped a small tank once. Never again will I remove live rock and replace it with dry. It was an 18 month battle with algae.
Bristle worms don't bother me and its futile to try and eliminate them IMO
I use CBBs to control aiptasia in my large tank. Peppermint shrimp control them in my smaller tanks.

 

[Snoop_90]

The aquascape is the main reason for the rock swap.

The aiptasia were under control and was doing great for months-years. Recently theres a massive outbreak. I've recently added pepperment shrimp a week ago. Hoping they make a difference. Otherwise my initial plan was to swap half the tank at a time after curing the rocks. I've used nudi's before but I think they were hunted down by the hermit crabs and bristle worms.

The bristle worms I recently added Gold Banded Mated Pair. But they were kinda small to see a huge difference. Going to start trapping them more.

 

[PPBlimpy]

It sounds like it is time to start a whole new tank. If getting new rock and sand pull everything out and put in a spare tank/temp tank/ horse trough etc and restart your tank fresh, I would ad some of your old good cycled rock into the mix after you clear any aptasia out to help the cycle.

I feel you will still get a mini cycle. You are removing all the good biological bacteria and replacing with sterilish rock.

not sure how the fish would do, corals should mostly be fine

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Man that to me sounds like heart surgery. If I had to do it I’d add rock to the tank, the Ave it in for 2 weeks. Than remove a rock same size. Keep repeating

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

However I’d find some natural predators or use traps to fix your problems

 

[jsmkmavity]

Could you rearrange some or most of the rock to get the desired aquascape along with some new pieces? Or is the style of rock you have not what you want?