need advice on fixing my 20G

[rookie50]

Recently I added two brain corals to my 50G bowfront. It has many corals and 4 fish, two clowns and two dwarf angels. Well the angels like to nip at the brains so they just closed up. I decided to put the brains in another 20G I have which was cycled but there's nothing in it now except a couple small flower pots (clay) and a gravel sub base. The brains bounced back right away(within a day) but I would like to fix up this tank. Here are my questions.

1.How do I replace the gravel base with sand.

2. If I add LR will the tank recycle again

3. Would an aquac remora protein skimmer suit this setup? No fish will be added just some corals (softies)

4 Plan on getting 130W PC lighting, adequate?

[Cosine]

Originally Posted by rookie50

Recently I added two brain corals to my 50G bowfront. It has many corals and 4 fish, two clowns and two dwarf angels. Well the angels like to nip at the brains so they just closed up. I decided to put the brains in another 20G I have which was cycled but there's nothing in it now except a couple small flower pots (clay) and a gravel sub base. The brains bounced back right away(within a day) but I would like to fix up this tank. Here are my questions.

1.How do I replace the gravel base with sand. - How long has the gravel been in the tank? If it's not deep and not well established you could just take it out. If it has been there for awhile you could poison the tank if disturbed. If thatis the case I'd take out rock and coral and water. Then remove the sand bed.

For putting in new sand an idea I've read but never tried is when you have the gravel out get a pieve of pvc and pour the sand through it down into the tank. This should minimize cloudiness.

2. If I add LR will the tank recycle again - yup. any die off on the rock will cause a cycle. If you can get the rock from an established system and keep in submerged then I think you'd have minimal die off and no problems.

3. Would an aquac remora protein skimmer suit this setup? No fish will be added just some corals (softies) - no fish in the tank at all? Yes the remora is great from what I hear!

4 Plan on getting 130W PC lighting, adequate? - I think that'd be good

Good luck! You should get some more thoughts from others soon!

[rookie50]

Gravel has been there 7 months. Is it dangerous to remove it? If I empty tank replace gravel and add LR will I have to wait for two months again to put the brains back in?

Or should I just leave the gravel base and continue from there?

One more thing. The current lighting is the basic 30W fluorescent. Will the brains be ok for a while until I can get better lighting?

[Cosine]

they should be fine for a little while
you could maybe change it out a little at a time. I'm not sure what kind of build up would be in the sand bed. If there wasn't much happening in the tank then I wouldn't worry about it being danerrous also it wouldn't be harmful if it is shallow

[wharyat]

For me I would empty the tank of inhabitants, and treat it like a brand new tank.

I have 130 watts of PC on my 20 + 20 watts actinic. I have good luck with acros, and other SPS.