How dangerous is it to move a sand bed from one tank to another?

[twiddledog]

How dangerous is it to move a sand bed from one tank to another?

I would like to transfer my deep sand bed from one tank to another. One tank is stocked and the other will not be when adding sand. Should I do it in small amounts at a time to lessen the danger of releasing toxins?

Any ideas?

I did this once before I knew anything. I bught my reef tank complete and took all sand out of tank, packed it up and brought it home and then put it all back in with no problems...I may have been lucky

 

[mandrake]

sounds like a pita, I would start with new sand if possible and seed it with a cup of existing sand.

 

[arch85]

from my experience, it's going to go through the cycle all over again ... depending on the health of your fish, they might or might not make it ... sorry ...

 

[twiddledog]

THats what I am going to do...just need to find some sand I like.

 

[dz6t]

I tried to do that once. That is many years ago and the sand I used was Southdown from HomeDepot.
It turned out no matter how I washed the old sand bed, it was still dirty as h*ll. I ended up toss all the old sand out and went bare bottom (that is another story).

 

[Aquaman_68]

I've reused.....I removed from the old tank this way..
Took a spatula & removed the first 1/2 of sand (aerobic) & put in one bucket with some tank water...areated & powerhead blasting... The rest was removed & put in a bucket with tank water no aeration cause this is the anerobic level of sand...it is normally stagnant... When I did it that way I experienced an ammonia spike for less than 4 hours!! Thats right...less than 4 hours it went from low levels to nada!!!

BUT.......


I should probably ask u...how old is this sand u have in ur tank? if it is over 4 years old u may consider launching it....Buy 1/3 live sand to seed 2/3 of freshly rinsed dry sand!! If u need the best method I can explain it to u...but it would b way easier by phone...pm me I will send u my number if u want a good method...

B

 

[twiddledog]

THanks! The sand has been in my tank for 7 years and it came with the tank when I bought from someone on here. I will PM you when I am ready.