new set up,pls advise.

[moron_clown]

hi,i'm setting up a new 4x2x2.5.i will be using the sump i'm currently using now.my question is,can i move the deep sand bed over to my new tank,by doing that i will have to disturb the sand bed(my sand bed is in my sump).will doing that make my sandbed useless?

[Achilles Tang]

You can't move your old DSB.

When I upgraded, I moved everything from my old tank to the new except the sandbed.

When you disturb a DSB, you affect the oxygen diffusion process through the layers and will kill off anaerobic bacteria that thrives in the almost zero oxygen layer. You may also release hydrogen sulfide (a product of denitrification) which could be toxic if they are in large amounts. So in theory, do not disturb a DSB once setup... only the top layers can be turned over by sand-sifters.

If you want to... you can remove all your old sand, give it a good wash to remove all the detritus that have accumulated before putting it back into your new tank to resuse.

The only thing is that you will lose all the microlife on it including pods and worms and all the aerobic & anaerobic bacteria.

You just have to give the 'new' sandbed time to repopulate itself with life and your sandbed is on your way to maturity where you will be able to deal with nitrates naturally via NNR.

Or perhaps you can do away with the sandbed and go Berlin style... some reefers endorse this method but they have quite a bit of restrictions in terms of stocking up, nutrient control and may need you to invest more heavily in better equipment like skimmers and phosphate reactors. Maxima says he has some 'secret tricks' to control NO3 and PO4 but he's extremely reluctant to share them. Wonder why?

[moron_clown]

haha,ok,will not transfer them.but if i use back the same sump and keep the sand bed intact while moving will there be a substantial enough die off to deem my sandbed useless as the sump needs to be dry.how long can the sandbed survive without water??