i want to change my substrate from gravel to sand

[hoolagal]

i have a 30 gallon tank i have to drain to move off the ruined stand and i thought this would be a good time to change the substrate ... if i do, would the tank have to be cycled again ??? would i have to keep the fish in buckets ... if anyone has done this, i would love to know your process ... thanks

[Death's Sting]

i have changed substrate many times. in my experience removing the substrate effects biological filtration in a little to nothing amount. most of your beneficial bacteria live in the filter. when i remove substrate i leave the fish in and do it during a water change.



However, if ur using an under gravel filter then u may have a problem!!!!!!!!

[Victor]

^ just curious, when you do that with fish in there, do you siphon the gravel out or just scoop with a cup or something?

[Death's Sting]

^ just curious, when you do that with fish in there, do you siphon the gravel out or just scoop with a cup or something?

i do both so the process goes quicker, i get the girlfriend to help

shes good with a hose... i always get her to do most of the sucking when we do water changes.

[hoolagal]

okay, thanks for the info ... should i refill with tank water or fresh water ??? i like the idea of keeping the fish in the tank because if i put my puffers in a pail, there would be death ... and no undergravel filter

[Death's Sting]

okay, thanks for the info ... should i refill with tank water or fresh water ??? i like the idea of keeping the fish in the tank because if i put my puffers in a pail, there would be death ... and no undergravel filter

might as well use fresh conditioned water. tank water serves no purpose, its just filled with nitrates and fish hormones.

[O.C.D Fishies]

So if you were doing sand or say eco-complete, would the cloudiness of the water be harmful to the fish. With eco-complete the water gets pretty black as I think the sand may get to.

[kbuntu]

okay, thanks for the info ... should i refill with tank water or fresh water ??? i like the idea of keeping the fish in the tank because if i put my puffers in a pail, there would be death ... and no undergravel filter

I might be wrong but I don't know anybody who does a 100% water change. Reason being not to stress out the fish and the paranoia of starting the cycling process all over. Perfect example was past summer when forum members tried to cool down their tanks with constant water changes.

100% water change and removing the gravel it's a huge water chemistry change meaning the fish will be stressed.

[Death's Sting]

a 100% water change would not effect the beneficial bacteria what so ever. Beneficial bacteria live and grow in and on objects (mostly filter media). Beneficial bacteria are NOT free floating in the water column, therefore removing water would not remove it. basically, what im saying is large water changes will NOT cause ur tank to recycle... if done properly.

a 100% water change would be stressful to the fish if:

1. the temperature was completely off
2. the PH was completely off
3. the GH and KH was completely off
4. the water was unconditioned and contained chlorine/chloramine or other heavy metals.

[charles]

there is something you should consider... bacteria lives in surface, not too much in water. I usually count sand / decor as 1/3 of where my bacteria is; especially you have gravel. By changing the substrate, you might be taken out some bacteria but usually the tank will catch up pretty fast. Just do a light feeding for about a week for the bacteria to catch up.