Switching from deep sand bed to bare bottom. What do I need to know

I'm currently in the process of doing it myself. I would take a hose and suck something like 1/4 of it out then wait a couple weeks and do a little more. Keep doing this until you have it all out. If your rock is on top of your sand I would also make sure that it can't fall when you remove your sand. I haven't taken any of mine out yet so I'm not sure how its gonna go. Another ..thing people recommend is not to make the starboard fit to tightly leave a inch or so around the outside so you can easily get the stuff out easily between the glass and starboard when cleaning. I guess the biggest thing I've been told is to do this process slowly.

 

What is a Starbourd?

 

It is a material kind of like the white plastic cutting board. A lot of people use it instead of sand to guard against falling rocks to protect the glass

 

I just siphoned out the sand when I did water changes. I don't have anything under my rock, fwiw.