Live Rock ????

[CHEMCHEF]

I am going to do some aquascaping tomorrow. How long can I leave LR out of water without too much die off.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

I would say a couple of hours.Others will chime in.

 

[PurpleTang]

ya when i re do my rock work, which used to be like every week until i found the way i liked it lol i would just leave the rock sitting on a towel for an hour or so and it was all good, but before you take the rock out of your tank, be sure to get all the snails off, once my six line wrasse came out with a rock and was sitting on the floor for 10-12 mins before i noticed, lucky he lived!!!

 

[CHEMCHEF]

I'm concerned because I am changing my sand bed.
I'm affraid this will effect how the tank recovers.

 

[PurpleTang]

doing that could effect your tank because of the amount of bacteria on your current sand bad, and might cause the tank to go into a mini cycle, but your tank should end up being fine

 

[TOTAL AQUARIUMS]

Chem, if you are going to change the sand completely I would advise that you remove all the rock and water placing them in garbage cans or other storage bins first. This will limit what you ultimately stir up from the bed preventing a lot of the waste from re-entering the tank. This will also keep the rock from having any die off from being out of the water for an extended period. If you have any questions feel free to call or PM or stop by. Just out of curiosity, why are you removing the sand anyway?

 

[CHEMCHEF]

My plan of action is. Remove 20 gal water,reserve in 2 buckets for corals w/ heater + powerhead.
remove all rock into a giant p[astic bin.
Remove fish to QT tank
Fill live rock bin with tank water.
Remove the rest of water into buckets.
Take out all sand.
Add new sand Different color
Add rock
Add Water

I'm switching to black sand (shallow sand bed) because I hate my sand. It has little peices of shell and rock. It looks like a garbage pile.
I also never liked the rockwork. So I'm killing two birds.
Actually three. I have a couple of fish I want out.:tongue1:

 

[PurpleTang]

good luck with the switch! i got some really nice black live sand from total aquarium that i put in my nano, really makes the corals color pop and also looks sick! have fun aquascaping

 

[Awibrandy]

Total Aquarium's advice is on the money! That is going to be an all day job. Definitely keep the rock in a bin covered with tank water, heater and a power head.
I would also take the water from the tank before disturbing the sand bed. Meaning, before you remove the layer of lr that sits on the sand bed.....
Best wishes for a great outcome....................................