rearranging help

[bkvreef]

I had been planning on moving but with economy and housing market I don't see that happening.
However, during this I have decided I'd like to rearrange my rock work, add more sand, and remove some of the fish.
This is where I am unsure of what to do (at least the order)
Tell me what you think:

1. take out some of the live rock and put it in a holding tank (which I will have to find something out there to borrow, hint hint)
2. next drain water (actually in conjunction with step 1) into holding tank
3. remove corals
4. remove unwanted fish (should I try to remove all?)
5. add sand (after it has been rinsed) I was going to this by sliding little amounts down pvc and letting it settle)  should I do this slowly over a long time to be safer?
6. quick razor blade to tank for coraline removal
7. reintroduce rock for landscaping
8. place corals on better locations.

Heres some questions:
Will this work?
How much of the 220g should I drain before moving around the bottom rocks (I was planning on removing the bottom 50g of water and doing a water change)?
Can this be done over one day, without causing too much stress?
I am just concerned about a nitrate jump but think if I don't get crazy moving things around I 'should' be ok.

Don't hesitate to critique anything.  I very much appreciate and need your help!!!!!

[Kenn]

Good thread ... getting ready to do this myself ... let the opinions begin 

[jd]

I've done this same thing a few times, granted it was on a much smaller scale

Everything you list sounds pretty good. I'd take all the fish out if you can, it will prolly be less stressful then leaving them in the tank while you're adding sand and rocks back in.

You can do it in one day, but give yourself WAY more time than you think you'll need.

[bkvreef]

would you add the sand at a later time?
should you add it on top of the present sand?

[HUNGER]

i would at the sand at the same time  and ontop of ur sand

[jd]

How deep is your current sandbed?

[larrynews]

correct me if i'm wrong but i don think you want to cover the old sand with new, without working it in, it will kill all the bacteria and stuff on and in the old sand

[HUNGER]

correct me if i'm wrong but i don think you want to cover the old sand with new, without working it in, it will kill all the bacteria and stuff on and in the old sand

ya that right from what i know

[bkvreef]

How deep is your current sandbed?

not deep at all around an inch.

[bkvreef]

correct me if i'm wrong but i don think you want to cover the old sand with new, without working it in, it will kill all the bacteria and stuff on and in the old sand

that was my understanding also but I didn't want to stir up the sand too much.

[jd]

not deep at all around an inch.

With a bed that small, you could get away with mixing your new sand in with the old, IMO

[KeepOnReefin]

Your definitely going to see a Nitrate spike, depending on the age of the system. When you start pulling out rocks all that built up detritus is going to get washed off the rocks. Same with the sand. I would add small amounts of sand at a time slowly, with the pipe as you mentioned.

You would probably benefit from a canister filter stuffed with floss for a few days to pull out that crap you stir up.

[HUNGER]

and have plenty of new salt watter maybe up

[Midwest Express]

Did you do the change over?

How did it go?  I am about to finish building my stand and then my canopy.  After I do that I am moving my tank to my front living room.  I was thinking that when I do that I was going to add a sand bed to my tank.  I just have a dusting of crushed corals in my reef now.  Light shines through it, it is so thin.

[bkvreef]

I did about a month or so ago.  Everything went good.  I would take pics but my lights went out so I have been running several weeks with half my lights (the ballast is supposed to be in soon).  I added sand on top of my original sand bed, so it is now about 2-3" deep.
I also moved the rocks around quite a bit and ended up changing out about 30 gallons of water (in a 220g) and everything(knock on wood) is doing fine.  The fish I've added, 4 anthias, wrasse, swallowtail angel, and purple tang are all doing well!
I would just suggest try not to stir up your sand bed more than necessary!!!

[HUNGER]

I would just suggest try not to stir up your sand bed more than necessary!!!

great point
glad to hear every thing is doing well