Substrate Change

[Reaper_Six_Four]

I have a 6 month established reef tank with inverts/corals/fish. I started with some really fine substrate but am looking to change it (gradually) with something heavier as the flow from my return pump and powerhead tends to sift it around (on low settings, not pointed directly towards substrate).

My plan is to do 20% substrate change over the course of 3 water changes (2 week intervals).

My question is this, do I need to remove my live stock to accomplish this? All live stock?

Thanks in advance.

 

[brandon429]

dont do it that way, its not safe though the mases will state that it is. it's not.

do it all at once, here's 250+ jobs done all at once:

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

I need to to a tank swap out here in the next few weeks. same tank size just a full replacement. red sea 650P around 180ish gallons I have 2" of carib sea special grade my fav. sand. I plan to put the fish corals and LR in to a tank with HOB filter, flow heater and light for maybe (...

www.reef2reef.com

you tap rinse out your new sand for hours, then one final rinse in RO, then you install it all at once. drain off most of your water in the current tank for re use, add some new make water for the rest. do it all at once.

 

[brandon429]

EMERGENCY - Substrate change

Hi all, I’m really confused and need advice. I currently have crushed coral in my flu all evo 13.5g which due to a month in hospital the sand bed got so badly stained I can’t clean it and it looks gross. It’s a mixed tank with a clown, fire fish and 2 cardinals. I’ve ordered caribsea live pink...

www.reef2reef.com

there's one single job you'd copy from that 250+ above.

 

[Reaper_Six_Four]

EMERGENCY - Substrate change

Hi all, I’m really confused and need advice. I currently have crushed coral in my flu all evo 13.5g which due to a month in hospital the sand bed got so badly stained I can’t clean it and it looks gross. It’s a mixed tank with a clown, fire fish and 2 cardinals. I’ve ordered caribsea live pink...

www.reef2reef.com

there's one single job you'd copy from that 250+ above.

What about adding additional substrate? Do I need to remove all livestock? I'm ultimately trying to avoid removing and stressing out the habitants. I could use more substrate.

 

[SlugSnorter]

What about adding additional substrate? Do I need to remove all livestock? I'm ultimately trying to avoid removing and stressing out the habitants. I could use more substrate.

no. careful you don't burry things though.

 

[brandon429]

It stresses the inhabitants to do it in sections you need to disassemble and reassemble. The aren't 50 page work threads on doing partial exchanges because those aren't safe, some tanks die from partial jobs. You can see in eight years pics no animals are stressed they're better looking than ever in all jobs logged.

If you want to add sand vs replace, you rinse it like we do in all jobs then just add it, it'll be cloudless and not mess up things. A total exchange is better, adding to means capping off waste.