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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/29/2009 11:18:38 AM
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| I have a 75 gallon salt water reef tank set up with a deep sand bed, about 6 inches deep. The tank about 4 months old, started with 25 pounds of sand from an established system. I would like to move the sand bed to a separte tank/sump with an area for a refugium, skimmer and pump. Is the tank old enough that disturbing the sand bed will be a problem? What can I do to reduce the shock to the system?
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/11/2009 9:11:08 PM
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Try a bunch of small shallow approx 2G pails/container's and just dig into the sand with them and gently remove them one by one with almost as much water in the pail as possible then gently lower it into the new tank with the old tanks water and slowly pour it and repeat
--------------------------------------------------------------------"Corals,corals,corals-they are as fascinating as candle lights." phyto4life
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/11/2009 9:11:08 PM
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If you can do it over a few days period would be best in sections
--------------------------------------------------------------------"Corals,corals,corals-they are as fascinating as candle lights." phyto4life
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Group: Moderators
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The problem with moving a DSB is there is no way that I know of to do it without disturbing the layers. On the plus side though, since you are moving it to a separate vessel, you can transfer as best as you can, be keep it off line of the main system until things settle. That way if you do experience die off in the DSB it won't pollute the rest of the system.
Steven Pro, yeah that is my real name.
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Group: Forum Members
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i agree, isolate it for a couple of weeks or more if you can. run the circulation pump and a skimmer just on the dsb. measure the ammonia and nitrite levels. rearranging the layers will lead to some die off for sure. only four months is not that long.
earlier this year i did a similar thing with an 8" deep bed that had been running for about three years. i kept the new tank isolated for a couple of weeks and all is well now.
what type of livestock do you have in the main tank?
why do you want to move the sand bed? why not just add a new one in the new refugium and leave the other one where it is?
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Carl-
We are all stardust
Sun powered reef
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/11/2009 9:11:08 PM
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| If you do move and isolate it using pails/containers try to match both of the tanks original water's temps along with a 20% water change afterwards and some of the original rock might help too. A few small powerheads will come in handy for circulation as well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------- "Corals,corals,corals-they are as fascinating as candle lights." phyto4life
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/29/2009 11:18:38 AM
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| I have four clownfish, snails and several small soft corals. I want to add more corals and increase the water flow. The high flow rate tends to shift the sand around. Moving to a refugeum with opposite light cycles is what I intend to do.
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