Advice please..my display tank is set up with crushed coral bed 4 inches thick. (I didnt know any better at the time and my supplier swore it was the best thing since sliced bread). It really needs changing for sand, and heres the problem. The tank is BIG, over three feet deep with huge rock work, some pieces are 80 lbs or heavier.Cant move them as I pretty much have to climb in the tank.Is there a way to siphon out the gunk and CC without sending everything into tilt?The rock work is on eggcrate and pretty stable. Thanks (again) for the as always generous advice , it was my own stupid fault for not doublechecking the advice I was given initially by someone who just wanted to sell me LOTS of expensive substrate.
crushed coral switchover
- Thread starter corinna
- Start date
I did the same thing only my tank is not that big. I removed all live stock into buckets - I removed everything and then removed the CC. Basically like starting over.
How did you originally set it up? I would get a few friends to help you tear it down.
How did you originally set it up? I would get a few friends to help you tear it down.
thanks Jay. I didnt set it up myself, it was ordered from someone who makes big display tanks for swanky restaurants, they organised everything. The alarm bells should have started ringing when they told me a skimmer was a waste of space...Im very pleased with the look of the tank, but its pretty much impractical. Ive added a skimmer(reef octo 3000). cant remove livestock as its full of caves and they just disappear into the rock work. Ive got fish, coldwater corals, gorgs, nems and squat lobsters, plus cuc. The whole lot cost me a fortune, and now im just trying to resolve problems as they appear.Moral of the story....research,resaerch,research
Well in that case - I would probably keep the CC. Many people will disagree and yes I changed mine, but I have heard of people keeping CC in their tanks without problems. I would think very strict feeding and a great clean up crew would help. I am by no means an expert so hopefully others will give you some advice.
I have a big bristle star and a tiger serpent star in my 46 bow and I would dare say no food escapes these guys. My tiger has little fear and will go anywhere to pick up scraps - I have seen him go into my skimmer overflow before. I would think the more stuff you can keep out of crushed coral the better off you will be. My LFS only uses CC and they have had display tanks running for years this way.
I don't know of a way to suck out the CC and put in sand without removing everything.
Your tank sounds awesome - throw up some pictures if can.
I have a big bristle star and a tiger serpent star in my 46 bow and I would dare say no food escapes these guys. My tiger has little fear and will go anywhere to pick up scraps - I have seen him go into my skimmer overflow before. I would think the more stuff you can keep out of crushed coral the better off you will be. My LFS only uses CC and they have had display tanks running for years this way.
I don't know of a way to suck out the CC and put in sand without removing everything.
Your tank sounds awesome - throw up some pictures if can.
Just leave the CC....you are talking about a major major project ...you'll have to keep your fish and livestock in buckets for a whole day, totally empty your tank, and possibly send your tank into another mini-cycle afterwards... further putting your fish at risk.
I tend to dissagree.....changing the substrate in a marine aquarium is reletivly a simple task, if done correctly....no need to remove livestock or anything...
Catpicklesdog
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
I tend to sit on the fence
If your crushed coral is under your life rock, it's going to be a huge job. If the rock went in first then it will be easier. You may not be able to get all the crushed coral out, but certainly most of it.
I must admit, I have 182 gallon tank and I wouldn't fancy do a job like that unless I really was in the right frame of mind and knew I would be undisturbed for a couple of hours
I would also recommend doing it a section of the tank at a time to try and avoid a huge cycle. You may still get a slight cycle but hopefully nothing too serious.
I chickened out when I did mine - I upgraded the tank and it was easy to replace with sand
If your crushed coral is under your life rock, it's going to be a huge job. If the rock went in first then it will be easier. You may not be able to get all the crushed coral out, but certainly most of it.I must admit, I have 182 gallon tank and I wouldn't fancy do a job like that unless I really was in the right frame of mind and knew I would be undisturbed for a couple of hours
I would also recommend doing it a section of the tank at a time to try and avoid a huge cycle. You may still get a slight cycle but hopefully nothing too serious.
I chickened out when I did mine - I upgraded the tank and it was easy to replace with sand
I think CC looks very nice and mine has a million critters running around in it.
I agree heartily with catpicklesdog. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=67259If you do this go slow. Leave any under touchy rocks. It won't be loaded with food anyway.
Alternatively read the Mega scrubber thread in DIY and see if you think a turf scrubber would allow you to avoid messing with the CC at all. You could build one in a five gallon pail and run it for a couple of weeks to see if it does the job. If it works formalize it and.. be happy.
I agree heartily with catpicklesdog. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=67259If you do this go slow. Leave any under touchy rocks. It won't be loaded with food anyway.
Alternatively read the Mega scrubber thread in DIY and see if you think a turf scrubber would allow you to avoid messing with the CC at all. You could build one in a five gallon pail and run it for a couple of weeks to see if it does the job. If it works formalize it and.. be happy.
Thanks guys.Maybe I could just add sand to eventually settle into the CC? Kcress, Ive been avidly following the scrubber thread, Ive already built one for my seahorse tank, been running for 3 weeks or so, and Im currently putting together another for the big tank. Very happy so far , the pods are breeding happily and the water clarity is improved no end.Ive plenty of space in the sump(70gals)to add in a scrubber withot too much hassle.
