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[nazzman]

have 60 gl hex fish only would like to covert to FOWLR whats the best way to go about this and keep fish in tank. also will adding live sand and rock be safe with fish in tank

[Brian5000]

If the live rock is from a local store and it's pre-cured, you shouldn't have any trouble. Just like adding fish, do it a little at a time to avoid stressing the system. Do regular tests and be prepared to do a waterchange if ammonia starts to register.

[Saltlick]

And do yourself a favor and take an ice chest with maybe 1/3 full of salt water
with you to the pet store. They are going to want to wrap that stuff in wet newspaper
and all the other things they do. If you want to minimize any die-off, I say take a
container with you. You'd be surprised how few people do. But like I said, take your
own salt water, the fish store is not likely to fill up your ice chest for you.

[PSLive]

A tip on the live sand if you are going to be adding it to a tank that has water and fish in it already. Drain off as much water as possible there in the store from the sand before they put it into the plastic bag to send it home with you. When you get home, just slowly put the whole bag of live sand in your tank and sink it to the bottom (if it is a regular fish bag with live sand they have had to scoop out for you) when it is on the bottom of the tank, use a razor blade or other sharp implement to slice the side of the bag open, and gently allow the sand to come out of the bag with your help. This will minimize the dust and debris that gets up into your water column, so that you can still see to work in the tank.

If the bag is one of the pre packaged bags that you have bought from a shelf, I wouldn't sink that bag into your tank, because who knows what might have gotten onto the bag.

[Saltlick]

That's good advice. Like they say you n ever get a second chance to make a first impression,
and baby, when you dump sand in a tank improperly, by the time you see what you have done,
it's FAR too late, lol.

[nazzman]

had fish in holding tank while the dust settled from the sand , next step live rock trying to decide on witch local dealer to buy from what about cultured rock?