There's many threads on moving a reef tank, but there's a big debate on whether to use the old sand or new. Some say that disturbing the old, that has a lot of detritis and other junk, will spike the tank with nitrates, other toxins, and maybe even anaerobic bacteria.
I bought a 3year old 120g reef that has rock, about 15 corals, 7 fish and around 3" of fine sand.
Why would moving the sand cause a chemistry problem ?
If I removed all the inhabitants, stir the sand with a wooden spoon (or the like) and use a gravel cleaner to remove the dirty water then throw that water away. Then once the remaining water clears, use that to fill the buckets to transfer all the rock, fish and corals, then use that old water along with fresh saltwater.
Why would using the old sand create a problem, and,......why ?
What are the pro's & con's of using or not, the old sand ?
Wouldn't that save very usefull bacteria, good critters etc ?
Or, is the packaged "live sand" a better and safer way, and why ?
Either way, should I use a bottled bacteria ?
I bought a 3year old 120g reef that has rock, about 15 corals, 7 fish and around 3" of fine sand.
Why would moving the sand cause a chemistry problem ?
If I removed all the inhabitants, stir the sand with a wooden spoon (or the like) and use a gravel cleaner to remove the dirty water then throw that water away. Then once the remaining water clears, use that to fill the buckets to transfer all the rock, fish and corals, then use that old water along with fresh saltwater.
Why would using the old sand create a problem, and,......why ?
What are the pro's & con's of using or not, the old sand ?
Wouldn't that save very usefull bacteria, good critters etc ?
Or, is the packaged "live sand" a better and safer way, and why ?
Either way, should I use a bottled bacteria ?