transfer existing sand? Yes or No?

[returnofsid]

I'm in the process of setting up a 200 gallon deep dimension. I have an existing 75 gallon reef tank. Everything from the 75 will be transferred to the 200, except a few soft corals, that I don't want in the 200, and a couple of fish that aren't compatible with my future plans...lol.

My question is regarding the sand bed. I originally set up a semi-shallow sand bed, about 2" deep, in the 75. This was about 3 years ago. In that time, the sand bed has been stirred up quite well, by quite a few Nassarius snails and even more so, by my Yellow Watchman Goby/Pistol Shrimp pair. The Pistol Shrimp is constantly moving the sand bed around and piling it up in places.

The 300 has a footprint of 48"X36". The amount of sand in the 75 would give me about 1" or so, if transferred.

However, I've heard both good and bad of re-using sand beds, so am coming here for advice!!!

Any thoughts!!!???

[charlie]

Take a couple of cups out of the old bed to seed your new bed Michael, that is what a guy like me would do.

[FireEater]

So if I read right, you are not buying or adding new sand, just adding the old sand to the new tank?

If so, then you can just use it like it is or wash it first real good. Either way, adding that small amount of sand should not hurt anything.

Personally, I would wash it real good first, then use it. The live rock will seed it back to life in no time. Been there, done that.

[kronos5]

Good advice

[asting]

2nd'd what charlie said.
Take a few cups (you could even put in a permeable bag), and then put new washed sand in the rest.