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well i finally decided to get rid of my rainbow gravel for some plain red gravel, right now i have the rinsed off good and sitting in a container with some of the tank water the i took out durring a water change today, but my question is, whats the best to actualy change the gravel.
im thinking about maybe getting a nice clean bucket and putting the water from the tank in that along with the fish and changeing the gravel, and then putting the fish and water back in, is that a good way to go?
thanks in advance

its me sk8freak20...i need to get premie so i can change my name back

i would pull the fish out, and use nets to pull out alot of gravel, still keeping some in, and add the new washed and cleaned gravel, on top.

Easiest way is to have the fish out of the way .

Use a bucket or two to net them in....if you're running HOB filtration pull that off and set it up on the bucket that way you're not constrained by the 1 hour time limit before your biofilter begins to die off.
Next do a good deep gravel vac to get as much of the mulm up so it doesnt cloud up the water as you're switching over. If you have a planted tank you'll want most of the thick stuff, otherwise pour it out in the garden...the plants'll love it .

When you're ready to switchthe substrate save a few handfuls of the old gravel and either place it in a clean shallow dish in a hidden corner of the tank or use an pair of nylons and place it near the outflow of your filter.

Once the tank has settled down you can start moving the fish back and resetup the filter. If you have cycle on hand add a dose of that.

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thanks everyone, if i have the gravel getting ready tonite do u think it would b safe to put it in tomorow, or should i wait another couple days

its me sk8freak20...i need to get premie so i can change my name back

Once it's rinsed real well you're fine to add it. Give a few hours for the changeover, longer of course with larger tanks.

Oh and leave the old gravel in the tank to help populate the new gravel for 3-4 weeks time, then pull the old stuff out.
Sorry I missed that bit...just woke up :%).

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The life, the love, You die to heal.
The hope that starts, The broken hearts...
I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool.
I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."

If it's well rinsed & don't have any dust, than it's ready for the tank. As the others said, catch the fish & do the change over.



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sk8freak20

I would syphon out some of the water first. Transfer the fish to this water carefully. Now completly syphon the rest of the water with out touching the gravel this will keep the water clean.
When the water is very low remove all the plants and toss them into the saved water with the fish.

Remove all the old gravel and save several panty hose feet full.

Do not clean any of your filter material, if you can run the filter in the storage container all the better, If not remove the all the filter material and place it into the storage area with the fish & the plants.

Wash the new gravel again just to make sure it is perfectly clean.

Add new gravel start replacing the old tank water, without stirring up the new gravel. When you have about 3ins 100mm of water replant all your plants carefully.

Continue to add the remainder of the water.

The fish, heater, and filtration can be added and running now.

Also add some stress coat, and a Bio Starter. The Pantyhose can be placed in the tank to get the bacteria going again.

I would have some prepared water to do a top up if necessary.

You will possibly have to add some Bio Starter and stress coat every day for at least 10days This will assure the good bacteria gets a very good start and remains healthy which is most important.

If you can add plenty of floating plants for a few weeks this will help in the mimi cycling process

I think I have covered everything

Keith

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