Crushed coral is a problem waiting to happen

[Reefscape]

:headbang2:Hey first post
i'm also pretty peeved with having been sold crushed coral as it looks so bad compared to sand, the smaller pieces make the tank seem like a larger 'piece' of the ocean. haha

so i'm planning out a switch, but i'm a noob and i need to know what i'm doing. here's what i've learned so far:

- take out my percula clown and (crabs/snails also? or are they tough enough), put him in a separate tank w/ powerhead and heater.
- take out live rock (why in a different container?) would they be okay together if i dont cause a debris storm?

- what should i do with my crushed coral i have, rinse it? just leave it? leave some? how do i waste as few bacterial residents as possible?

- if i mix my CC with the new sand as suggested how would i separate them after?

- Also, if i'm to allow weeks to sneak in the process, what about my livestock? would a one-day, prolonged switch as opposed to 2 weeks' be horribly noobsauce?

i'm sorry for the amount of questions.. :wall:i need to get something figured out b/c i'm getting increasingly annoyed looking at the CC.. lol

Hello there and Welcome to Aquaria Central..

Quite a few on here have made the switch from CC to normal aragonite sand. When doing this, its always best to do it in 1/3's. Leave a week in between changing the sections of the sand bed to allow some life to transfer itself from the old sand and into the new sand.

I dont see any need to have to remove everything from the tank, just re-arrange the rock in there to allow you remove the certain section of sand, lay the new sand and move the rock back....What your aiming for is total removal of the CC...

 

[beastium]

Hello there and Welcome to Aquaria Central..

Quite a few on here have made the switch from CC to normal aragonite sand. When doing this, its always best to do it in 1/3's. Leave a week in between changing the sections of the sand bed to allow some life to transfer itself from the old sand and into the new sand.

I dont see any need to have to remove everything from the tank, just re-arrange the rock in there to allow you remove the certain section of sand, lay the new sand and move the rock back....What your aiming for is total removal of the CC...

Hmm..
I have a lot of rock in there so I'm probably going to take out a few chunks to remove the CC but.. I dont know, wont the removing and adding the new sand overwhelm the nemo fish I just added?

Should i take him out each time i do this process or wait a little for him to get comfy in the tank before i start doing this or would it be okay if done in 1/3's..
even though the water gets really cloudy due to the maintenance?

The thing I'm concerned about is how I will ease in this replacement handling both CC and Sand in the tank at the same time without having the two substrates combine.:eek3: and without causing too much stress to my livestock.


Here's my tentative plan please fix it if need be:
1) turn off pumps
2) remove some rock
3) remove some CC
(how? do i have to siphon or can i just use a cup/my hand?)
4) add some sand
(how? lol just dump? with the fish in there? i dont know, broo)
5) put rock back
6) repeat as necessary


Soo stressed lol

thanks reefscape youre the man

 

[Reefscape]

hmm..
i have a lot of rock in there so i'm probably going to take out a few chunks to remove the CC but.. i dont know, how about acclimating the new sand with my tank water and removed CC in a new container but separated of course.

<<No need to acclimatize the new sand>>
the thing is how do i do this without having the two substrates combine?:eek3:
<<A little will get mixed in with the new sand, but its nothing to worry about>>

and add new sand without causing too much stress to my livestock?

<<I would not deem it to be a problem when done in parts>>

so here's my tentative plan please fix it if need be:
turn off pumps
remove some rock
remove some CC, add some sand
put rock back
repeat as necessary

<<Agreed>>

but what about the new fish i just got .. should i wait a little for him to get comfy in the tank or would it be okay for him if done in 1/3's even though the water gets really cloudy due to the maintenance?
Soo stressed lol

<<It will be absolutly fine, would not see it as a concern>>

thanks reefscape youre the man

No problem...Added some comments above in red..

 

[beastium]

thanks a lot my friend.
LOL @ crushed coral.

 

[Reefscape]

Please do create a new thread in the general marine forum when you do this so we can all follow you through the process and you can ask any questions along the way...We all like to follow on as people make changes like this to an aquarium...Plus, it will be helpfull to others to be able to read through it and use it as an info guide if they ever want to do it too....

 

[sevenworlds]

Hello; I'm new here and also to saltwater tanks, I have a question on vaccuming the sand; What is the best way to clean without much disturbance?

 

[Reefscape]

Hello; I'm new here and also to saltwater tanks, I have a question on vaccuming the sand; What is the best way to clean without much disturbance?

Keeping low flow across the sandbed is the best solution particles settling on the substrate. Other wise, you can use a syphon tube when you carry out a water change, and just hold the tube about an inch away from the sand bed, so it gently lifts the settled particles off the bed, without actually disturbing it...

 

[superlynx]

I have read quite a few threads about cc and understand the danger. I have LS in my tank. I think they just looks better and better for the fishes to hide in and play with.
My question is that I have a fish guy that stop by to help me with the tank. I ask him about CC, he doesn't see too much harm in CC. His reason is that Sand comes form CC. Just curious and not asking to be flamed.

 

[Eddiecorrea]

CC is not as bad as some say. If you do decide to use it use a mix of CC and Sand.

 

[Famm]

My personal experience leads me to believe that if you are doing fish only then CC is not as bad. Just use a thin layer and be religious about vaccing it weekly. For reef applications, it probably is a bad idea, but it isn't a total nightmare in every case. Especially in FO if you aren't overstocking.