re using sand bed

Discussion in '3reef Site Polls' started by steve wright, Mar 15, 2010.

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re using old sand bed - yes/ no/ maybe?

  1. discarded and used new sand, seeded with a cup of old sand

    27 vote(s)
    52.9%
  2. cleaned old sand left to dry, and re used

    6 vote(s)
    11.8%
  3. rinsed old sand in tank water and immediately introduced into tank

    10 vote(s)
    19.6%
  4. none of the above - please describe your method

    8 vote(s)
    15.7%
  1. seabass1

    seabass1 Montipora Digitata

    Joined:
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    Home in San Diego, CA.
    I'll pass about 1/4 of old sand through saltwater at water changes & use it with about 3/4 new. I've always dumped the rest back on the beach.
    I always reuse old rock.
     
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  3. Night-Rida

    Night-Rida Finback Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
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    2,703
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Ive always reused and rinsed old sand/cc substrate when moving.. but have added some new sand into mix down the road.. but I had this CC since 1998 and its a nitrate trap. so if I ever move again, it will be 99% new sand and a little old sand/cc to seed for sure..
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. CrazyA

    CrazyA Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2009
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    243
    Location:
    Redmond, Or
    so what problems happen if you re-use old sand? I planned to reuse mine when i did my tank swap soon
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. ZachB

    ZachB Giant Squid

    Joined:
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    I rinsed the old sand in freshwater and put in the new tank. No issues. Only reason I'm not doing it this time is that I don't like the old sand and want a change.
     
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  6. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    Aug 1, 2009
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    New Freedom, PA
    steve... this is an interesting topic!
    heres my views: if you have an established old "shallow" sand bed that you know has no buildup of toxicity then I feel it would be okay to transfer it all. However, if it is a DSB, you are not going to want to expose anything below 2" to oxygen (it will kill any aerobic bacteria, thus making your cycle take longer)...

    If you have the aged bacteria that have evolved to the specific metabolic processes in a tank, there is no reason to waste them all by not introducing a significant population into the new tank :)
     
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  7. ZachB

    ZachB Giant Squid

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    All sand is cleaned and reused anyhow, just from the ocean.

    Provided you clean it properly, I don't see why you can't reuse it unless you introduced copper somehow.

    It's just a pain in the rear is all and depends on how hard you want to work; It's just sand. Grab a few beers and a strainer and buckets of fresh water and rinse away.
     
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  9. wfb2270

    wfb2270 Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    Messages:
    728
    Location:
    VA
    as some of you know i am trying to make this desicion now. its tough. seems like a waste of money and sand to just get new sand during a tank move. however the nutrient release could prove even more expensive.

    here is one thing to think about if getting new sand is the answer......

    if the sand is that much a nutrient trap then it needs to be replaced on occasion anyways, not just when replacing tank. i wonder how much at a time is "safe".

    i also think a "sand washer" could be set up with a small tank. put a HOB skimmer and maybe reactor for phospate. throw in a powerhead for circulation, if it was strong enough it could even stir the sand for you. basicly you would just have to stir the sand up everday or so, maybe do a water change on occasion till the sand was "clean"
     
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  10. sean_p_f

    sean_p_f Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2007
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    502
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    about a month ago i moved houses (needed an upgrade).

    the process that i used was very simple after emptying the tank i scooped out all the sand into a rubbermade tub and moved it to the new house. after arriving i dumped the sand into the new tank and filled with water ect.

    i expierneced a mini cycle however i expected this to happen and had no lose of livestock.
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. inwall75

    inwall75 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2003
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    America
    I couldn't vote twice. I've done the use new sand and seed method and the rinse in saltwater and immediately use method. For nano's, I just clean the sand. I'm too lazy to clean sand for large tanks like 75 or above.
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. OnefishTwofish

    OnefishTwofish Feather Star

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2009
    Messages:
    790
    Location:
    Western NY
    What method of cleaning would you recommend for smaller tanks in a case like this? I will be replacing my current 29 with a 50 breeder not too long from now. The sand bed is only a few months old. I plan to add a bunch more new sand. I will have a sump/refugium this go round and some existing sand can go in the new fuge.

    (this is turning out to be an excellent thread....thanks to all for your comments!)