Reddogs tank teardown and substrate replacement thread

So if any of you remember last year i received a tank setup from a friend who was getting out.He brought it over and set it up.I had no knowledge at the time and searched the internet for info and thats when i first joined 3reef.After much reading and questions I learned that the undergravel filter and cc substrate he had set me up with was at least unacceptable for a reef.Unable to bring myself to do a tear down i focused on upgrading old or non exsistent equipment skimmer,lights e.c.t.( i did discontinue use of the undergravel filter but left the plate in)
Now I am having GHA and cyano issues and know where its coming from.Damn CC..I ordered 45lbs of dry fiji pink last week and am finally ready to tear down the tank and replace the substrate.It will also give me chance to re aquascape if i want also.So i have a plan and thought i would share my experiences with others looking for answers.

 

The Plan

Here is the plan.Please let me know if somethin looks fishy...

I have at the moment:
1-empty 10gallon tank placed near main tank
30gal of salt water
5gal of R/O water
4-5gal buckets cleaned out and dried
2-plastic bins
1-sheet of eggcrate

I plan on first syphoning water out of the main tank into the 10gal and placing all corals and fish in also.I have a heater and powerhead in the 10gal.
Then continue syphoning water into the 5gal buckets and some into the live rock holding bins so to keep the live rock submerged.
I got extra salt water so i could wash off my live rock and try to remove as much dietrius as possible.I will fill 2-5gal buckets 3/4 way and use them as rinse buckets taking each piece of live rock from the main tank and dunking them into one bucket first and then the next,and finally into the semifull holding bins.
When i get down to a couple of inches of water i will stop before disturbing the bed.
At this point i will remove the cc and clean the bottom of the tank and anything else that needs it.

Sound good so far?

 

The rebuild:

After cleaning the tank i will put down eggcrate where needed and pour in (pre rinsed with R/O)the sand.At this point I will start adding 50% new salt mix while transfering live rock as the water level rises.When half full I will add the water from the live rock holding bins and the rest of the rock and finish aquascaping (scared).Turn on heaters and pumps if water level is good and do a round of tests.
When the water is clear and scaped i can transfer coral and fish and any water from the 10gal i need to top off and done.

I know its a long plan but i feel i need it and have been told by many on here to do so.
Please let me know if i missed anything.I will be posting as i do it but will wait till im done to add pics because its time sensative.

 

pictures!

 

Starting tomorrow evening.Just wanted to see if there was any last minute advice.I will take pics as i go and post them after.

 

sounds good buddy i wish you luck on this and will be following this thread.

 

Sounds practically perfect.

I would make a few gallons of extra water.... just in case. It always seems to disappear.
Plan on keeping inhabitants in holding tank for at least 24 hrs. You never know what will come up.
Trash bag on top of sand when you start putting in water. Will keep it from being stirred up as bad.

 

Well things look good.Started at 9 am and its now 1pm and its pretty much done.I have pics but will put them up a little later.The tank is cloudy as expected but things are clearing up.Im very excited about my aquascaping job.Very excited!!!

 

Everything looks great!The fish are out and swimming.The coral all look happy and the tank looks beautiful.Sorry the pics are not great during the teardown but i was a bit frazzled and not worried about photography so a few came out fuzzy.

First pic of 10gal with coral

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next emptying tank

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sand has been washed

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Water and buckets

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coral holding tub

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Almost there

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empty tank with sand and bowl

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A little water and some scaping

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More scaping and skimmers on

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getting clearer

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left

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right

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before

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After

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Thanks to all who helped and forall the knowledge and confidence 3reefers gave me to do this

 

Great scape, congrats on completing the project.