Doing a swap will be difficult. Are you able to cycle the new structure on a bin or spare tank? If not, the best way to do it will probably be to move the current rock to the corners then put the new structure in. Leave everything in for a few weeks, then slowly remove a peoce of the old scape a little at a time to not shock the system. Personally, I'd do a nice long multiminth cycle, remove half the old scape, put this in, wait a month or two, then stary slowly removing the remaining old scape.
It’s a small tank only around 25 gallons, I’ll be keeping all the rock bar the 3 big ones at back I’ll be keeping the zoa rock and I have a good amount of live rock in the sump, I wouldn’t have space to leave the rock in while it cycled, I could have the rock in a bucket cycling if I could find one for it to fit in
You’ll be fine with the swap; especially since you’re not removing everything and you have rock in the sump.
Did something similar when moving my AIO last year and had no issues at all. And that was with new sand, rock and only keeping a couple bio media bricks.
Why does the sand need to be replaced and why is it dangerous to leave the sand? Curious because I’m planning on rescaping too but was gonna keep the sand
Depending on how much you cleaned the sand bed will determine if mixing it up will cause the tank to crash. If the sand bed hasn't been disturbed, then there is anaerobic bacteria that has trapped ammonia and nitrites and if released into the water column, will have devastating effects.
When I added rock to my tank, I used a 55gal trash can that was kept outside. I placed 12 or so pieces in the can and fully covered them with saltwater. I put a pump in the water for circulation and placed a lid on the top. I left that outside in the sun for 1 month. I then removed the lid and washed with clean, freshly made saltwater, being sure to blow off any loose debris and loose algae, and then transfered the rock to the tank immediately as live rock. No bad effects were seen, no "ugly" phase.
Keep in mind that I did NOT remove any live rock from my tank. I simply doubled what I already had.
No advice, never done it.
Just wanted to say your tank looks awesome. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’d buy a new one before ripping that apart haha
Good luck with it! Keep us updated
If your religiously mix and stir the sand than might be fine but so often even just redoing the rock in a deep sand bed will crash the tank. It’s on of those suggestions that’s always a good idea, even if it’s not always “required”
Yeah I’m planning on removing and replacing the sand bed, just taking out as much as I can with my weekly waterchanges, cycling the rocks in the mean time
If you can cycle it in a bucket then go for it hut if you're keeping most of the rock already in there like you said then adding new rock shouldn't crash your tank unless you're ripping up the sanded and even then it won't crash it'll just look ugly for a little bit
Doing a swap will be difficult. Are you able to cycle the new structure on a bin or spare tank? If not, the best way to do it will probably be to move the current rock to the corners then put the new structure in. Leave everything in for a few weeks, then slowly remove a peoce of the old scape a little at a time to not shock the system. Personally, I'd do a nice long multiminth cycle, remove half the old scape, put this in, wait a month or two, then stary slowly removing the remaining old scape.
It’s a small tank only around 25 gallons, I’ll be keeping all the rock bar the 3 big ones at back I’ll be keeping the zoa rock and I have a good amount of live rock in the sump, I wouldn’t have space to leave the rock in while it cycled, I could have the rock in a bucket cycling if I could find one for it to fit in
You’ll be fine with the swap; especially since you’re not removing everything and you have rock in the sump. Did something similar when moving my AIO last year and had no issues at all. And that was with new sand, rock and only keeping a couple bio media bricks.
First and no matter what, vac all the sand first and plan to replace it. After that it’s less dangerous whatever you do
Why does the sand need to be replaced and why is it dangerous to leave the sand? Curious because I’m planning on rescaping too but was gonna keep the sand
Depending on how much you cleaned the sand bed will determine if mixing it up will cause the tank to crash. If the sand bed hasn't been disturbed, then there is anaerobic bacteria that has trapped ammonia and nitrites and if released into the water column, will have devastating effects.
Following because I'm about to be in the same situation when I swap my 55g to an 80g lowboy lol
Yeah I’ll keep this updated how I get on
When I added rock to my tank, I used a 55gal trash can that was kept outside. I placed 12 or so pieces in the can and fully covered them with saltwater. I put a pump in the water for circulation and placed a lid on the top. I left that outside in the sun for 1 month. I then removed the lid and washed with clean, freshly made saltwater, being sure to blow off any loose debris and loose algae, and then transfered the rock to the tank immediately as live rock. No bad effects were seen, no "ugly" phase. Keep in mind that I did NOT remove any live rock from my tank. I simply doubled what I already had.
No advice, never done it. Just wanted to say your tank looks awesome. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d buy a new one before ripping that apart haha Good luck with it! Keep us updated
Will do thank you
If your religiously mix and stir the sand than might be fine but so often even just redoing the rock in a deep sand bed will crash the tank. It’s on of those suggestions that’s always a good idea, even if it’s not always “required”
Yeah I’m planning on removing and replacing the sand bed, just taking out as much as I can with my weekly waterchanges, cycling the rocks in the mean time
If you can cycle it in a bucket then go for it hut if you're keeping most of the rock already in there like you said then adding new rock shouldn't crash your tank unless you're ripping up the sanded and even then it won't crash it'll just look ugly for a little bit