Switching From Crushed Coral to Sand

I want to switch from crushed coral to sand. I just need to find out what is the best way to change from one to the other in an already established aquarium? Also what sand would the best to use?

i like caribsea u can get a 30lb bag at petsmart for 20$ but its not live

would u wana get rid of ur crushed coral?

Yes I was told it would be better. Where do u get live sand?

usually from any marine store or online its kinda expensive but worth it

How would I exchange them out? And what would the difference be between live sand and caribsea?

well caribsea is just the brand name they have live and nonlive sand. live sand pretty much just gives you a jumpstart

what all do u have in tge tank?

We can provide live sand here in Tyler, just contact us and we can give you the details.


There is a couple of ways to do this,

1. Drain the tank into another container remove the substrate with a shop vac and replace substrate and use the water you removed.

2. Attempt to physically remove substrate with water in the tank and add the sand back in

Either way you need to be aware that you are removing a lot of good bacteria that processes waste in the aquarium

I would recommend using a good quality bacteria supplement after replacing the bed such as Fritz Zyme.

How much live rock do you have in the tank? If you have plenty of live rock I would do as Jeff said and drain the water into a clean plastic trash can, remove the live rock then scoop out and remove the rest of the crushed coral with a shop vac but if it were me, I would go to Petco and buy the Natures Ocean dry sand and use it to replace the crushed coral. If you use dry sand there will not be cycle and it will become live sand in a very short time from the live rock but in order to do this you need ample live rock. this sand is also heavy enough not to blow around and get into pumps. I use it myself.

Nature's Ocean Dry Sand!

+1 on Jeff's methodology.

Me personally, I have an issue with paying the prices of these bagged, so-called "live sand." I know there are studies that show some forms of bacteria can do it, but I just can't figure out how these bacteria can survive in a sealed plastic bag, sometimes in the dark for days/weeks on end, may or may not be moisture in there. Just is beyond me how that can happen, but we don't have to get into that discussion.

Like Donnie said, buy a good dry sand, rinse it well to get all the small particulates out, put it in your tank, then start putting everything back in.

I would add to that, most anyone on here who has an established tank (or even Jeff) can probably provide you with a cup or two of their sand to "seed" your new sand.....in addition to the live rock, yours would be live before you know it.

Just my 2 cents...

I'd go with dry sand in an already established tank. In a new tank I don't think live sand is bad... not because the bacteria is already alive in the live sand, but because the dead stuff needed to create an ammonia spike is already in the "live sand."

But then... why not just buy dry sand and throw some fish food in there for it to break down?

The only exception for me would be if someone local had live sand in a running healthy system. Then you would truly get some beneficial bacteria and live hitchhikers.

I've got sand available in my store- let me know if you would like to come check it out

I plan on coming in Friday Thanks

hey ive got like 40 or 50 pounds of sand im not using

well southernlost i am interested in your sand. let me know how much you are wanting for it..