Changing crushed coral to sand

[MattL]

Has anyone done this? How did you do it? Can i add the sand into the the crushed coral? Or should i remove it then add the sand?

 

[Zooid]

I'd remove it. You might have to remove a little section at a time depending on how old the crushed coral is.
If it's really old, you might stir up some nasty stuff locked into the crushed coral bed.

If you just add the sand on top of the crushed coral, the sand will eventually end up under the crushed coral.
It will sift through the large chunks and after a time, it will look like a crushed coral bed again.

 

[tlo25]

I've done it. I did it half at a time over two months. I took out half of the crushed coral and put in the sand I wanted, put some of the crushed coral I took out in mesh bags and left it in the tank for filtration for a month. Then I did the other side. If you are worried about disturbing things then do less than half at a time, just make sure you leave some of the old stuff in the tank in mesh bags or stockings so you don't lose too much filtration.

 

[Zooid]

... just make sure you leave some of the old stuff in the tank in mesh bags or stockings so you don't lose too much filtration./QUOTE]

+1

 

[freedominco]

I did this on my 90 gallon 1/3 at a time over a couple of weeks.

 

[MattL]

So a thought on the subject; if you don't take it out and get sand sifters will it not always be mixed? Second, how did everyone take it out? Tank is nine months old, do i still need to leave the cc in a bag for filtration?

 

[Zooid]

Sand sifters don't really like crushed coral so they wouldn't keep it mixed up.
I would just scoop it out with a cup (about 1/3 of the area per couple of weeks).
Replace the crushed coral with new sand each time you clear an area.
If it was me, I'd keep the crushed coral in a bag for filtration. I'd discard the first
batch of crushed coral when you started taking out the second third. Then I'd discard
that crushed coral when you started taking out the last third. I'd keep the last third
in bags for about two weeks after removing it.