Reaquascaping an established tank?

[snowmansnow]

ONE thread.. ONE THREAD got me thinking.. THANKS GUYS.

Anyway... I LOVE the bonsai type aquascape look very fresh and it leaves a lot of sand bed without "stuff" on it.

Here is what I'm talking about...(SEE BELOW)

so... how catastrophic would it be to my established sps system to redo a few islands like THIS?

I HAD 2 distinct areas, but they GREW together over the last year.......

IF one was to undertake such a thing what steps would one take to help insure success?

I have plenty of LR to use IN THE TANK and sump that would be used, so there shouldn't be cycling issues.

B
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[dewey1982]

if you can avoid stirring up the sand it shouldn't be that big of a problem. Keep in mind that when you move your SPS around it will take a few days to adapt to a new spot.

 

[snowmansnow]

not much way of NOT stirring sand im one of the weirdos that keeps the sand bed agitated anyhow.... but hey what do i know??

 

[crewdawg1981]

Run carbon... lots of carbon.

Just be careful not to do too too much stirring and you should be okay.

You're going to need to drill and use acrylic rods to keep a shape like that though.

 

[tgray3]

I wouldn't risk it. I tried changing my aquascaping and killed the entire tank. I took some rock out and rearranged it the way I wanted. I didn't think I disturbed the sand bed much at all and everything looked fine when I went to bed. I got up the next day and it looked like someone dumped a gallon or 2 of milk in there. I got the fish out and into another tank and they survived OK, but all the inverts except for a 6" pagoda and 1 hermit crab died over night. IMHO, It's not worth the risk. If I get tired of my aquascape again then everything gets transferred to another tank and I break down that tank, re do it and cycle it.

 

[fraggel rock]

I am actually working on a bonsai aquascape right now but instead of using a large rock at the bottom I am using a flat piece of acrylic that will be underneath the sand with acrylic rods glued to it. Instead of acrylic for the rest of the structure I found super strong carbon fiber rods. I would like to find out more about what you are planning on doing and how you are planning on creating your structures.