Need Help Replacing Substrate

ReeVo · 12/17/2010, 08:26 PM

Hey guys, I have a 20 gallon tank that I started up about 4 months ago. I have black substrate that I want to change with caribseas fiji pink sand.

How can I go about doing this the best way in one day?

Will I go through a mini cycle afterwards?
Will my fish be ok in murky/cloudy water?

I just bulit a sump/refugium and I am planning on setting up once I get my overflow box next week?
Should I do it after I setup the refugium or the same day?

I really need some help guys.
I would really appreciate it.

Just want to do it right the first time instead of me guessing on how to do it.

Dustin1300 · 12/17/2010, 08:36 PM

If you are set on doing it....Personally I'd move fish out into a temporary storage container. Change out the substrate and expect a cycle. Hopefully you don't hardly have any fish considering tank is only 4 months old. Add new substrate after being rinsed with RO/DI water and then after tank sits and skims/settles add the fish back.

tkeracer619 · 12/17/2010, 08:41 PM

You shouldn't do it all in one day. It is not a good idea.

Start sucking it out with water changes using a tube of at least 1/2"

Once you get it all out you can add sand as you please.

Dustin1300 · 12/17/2010, 08:51 PM

I was just thinking without coral a crash is not likely as the poster only has fish from my understanding...Gradual is better but poster wanted a one day solution

Agu · 12/17/2010, 09:24 PM

Mix up 15 to 20 gallons of saltwater.

Put new sand in bucket and soak in enough water change water to completely cover it. Soak it and stir it up several times over a day. This seems to seed the sand with bacteria and minimize the sand storm effect.

Siphon out about 2/3 of the tank water into three buckets.

Catch the fish you can catch. Put them in bucket one with an airstone if available. If you don't have an air pump remember to scoop out some water and pour it back in for aeration every 15-20 minutes.

Remove corals if you have any to second bucket.

Remove rock and put in bucket number three.

Catch any remaining fish and put in bucket one.

Scoop out the sand and clean the tank if necessary.

Add the sand, about 10 gallons of new water, and live rock. Swish the rock in the holding bucket to remove detritus and swish it in the new water to remove air bubbles in the rock. Discard the water from that bucket. Confirm the temp and salinity are close to equal.

Add the corals (if any). If that water looks OK add it to the tank, otherwise discard it too.

Add fish. Use fish water to top off tank, if you need more water use the premixed water.

Test for ammonia and do water changes as needed to avoid an ammonia spike for at least a week.

Sit back admire your tank and appreciate what an awesome job you just did.

ReeVo · 12/18/2010, 04:49 AM

Thanks for the advice guys.
Wish me luck

areeftank · 12/18/2010, 08:00 AM

What did u end up doing

12/17/2010, 08:26 PM	#1
ReeVo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	Need Help Replacing Substrate Hey guys, I have a 20 gallon tank that I started up about 4 months ago. I have black substrate that I want to change with caribseas fiji pink sand. How can I go about doing this the best way in one day? Will I go through a mini cycle afterwards? Will my fish be ok in murky/cloudy water? I just bulit a sump/refugium and I am planning on setting up once I get my overflow box next week? Should I do it after I setup the refugium or the same day? I really need some help guys. I would really appreciate it. Just want to do it right the first time instead of me guessing on how to do it.

12/17/2010, 08:36 PM	#2
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	If you are set on doing it....Personally I'd move fish out into a temporary storage container. Change out the substrate and expect a cycle. Hopefully you don't hardly have any fish considering tank is only 4 months old. Add new substrate after being rinsed with RO/DI water and then after tank sits and skims/settles add the fish back. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/17/2010, 08:41 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	You shouldn't do it all in one day. It is not a good idea. Start sucking it out with water changes using a tube of at least 1/2" Once you get it all out you can add sand as you please. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/17/2010, 08:51 PM	#4
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I was just thinking without coral a crash is not likely as the poster only has fish from my understanding...Gradual is better but poster wanted a one day solution __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/17/2010, 09:24 PM	#5
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Mix up 15 to 20 gallons of saltwater. Put new sand in bucket and soak in enough water change water to completely cover it. Soak it and stir it up several times over a day. This seems to seed the sand with bacteria and minimize the sand storm effect. Siphon out about 2/3 of the tank water into three buckets. Catch the fish you can catch. Put them in bucket one with an airstone if available. If you don't have an air pump remember to scoop out some water and pour it back in for aeration every 15-20 minutes. Remove corals if you have any to second bucket. Remove rock and put in bucket number three. Catch any remaining fish and put in bucket one. Scoop out the sand and clean the tank if necessary. Add the sand, about 10 gallons of new water, and live rock. Swish the rock in the holding bucket to remove detritus and swish it in the new water to remove air bubbles in the rock. Discard the water from that bucket. Confirm the temp and salinity are close to equal. Add the corals (if any). If that water looks OK add it to the tank, otherwise discard it too. Add fish. Use fish water to top off tank, if you need more water use the premixed water. Test for ammonia and do water changes as needed to avoid an ammonia spike for at least a week. Sit back admire your tank and appreciate what an awesome job you just did. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

12/18/2010, 04:49 AM	#6
ReeVo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	Thanks for the advice guys. Wish me luck

12/18/2010, 08:00 AM	#7
areeftank Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 113	What did u end up doing

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