Sand replacement and BTA

jenglish · 08-01-2009, 12:19 PM

After my pump comes in and I get a sump added I am going to replace my sand bed. Well, I have to take all the sand and rock out of the DT to drill it, So it seems like as good a time as any to replace the majority of the sand. After this is done I think I may try a quadricolor. The new sand bed (seeded with old) will not totally reset the tank... but should I wait at least a month before getting a nem? If I use a slightly courser sand than the sugar fine I do now(wanting somehting that can tolerate flow) will the nem tolerate this?

Elegance Coral · 08-01-2009, 12:40 PM

In an over abundance of caution, I would say give it a month or so. In reality, if you keep the rocks submerged in SW, and you get them back into the tank in a timely fashion, you shouldn't have any issues. Once the tank has had 24 to 48 hours to settle and filter out the particulate matter, you should be good to go. No harm will come from putting it off though.

nanofreak · 08-01-2009, 02:51 PM

Do you really need to replace the sand bed I have been following this for a while. I heard people say do it don't do it It is an involved process any more info on it.

jenglish · 08-01-2009, 03:28 PM

Calcium sand binds with phosphate... good water flow and skimming can limit the accumulation of PO4 but this sand was already re-used once. It is not showing signs of filling... but it is a convenient time to replace it. It is approaching 3 years old and two of those years were very poor water conditions. If you have a DSB then disturbing it can be a tricky process. This one is still free of black spots underneath and should not be triggering any problems. Honestly a well ran tank the sand bed will last longer than most people go between moves, crashes and upgrades.