FishProfiles.com Message Forums

i will be receiving 60 pounds of eco-complete on tuesday, adn just curious about the procedure to swap out my old substrates...

since i have a large bio-wheel, and some wool-like stuff in my filter, plus i am going to be using eco-complete, do i still need to soaking thing with nylon stocking??

this is what i have planned...

1. take out all wood, rocks
2. take out plants and then fish and put them in a clean plastic storage unit (is that ok?)
3. save 2 buckets (around 30%) of the water (or more?)
4. drain the rest of water
5. take out old substrate
6. put in new substrate
7. carefully pour back in the old water
8. put back plants, rocks, wood
9. refill water
10. wait till temp reaches normal, then put the fish back (or need to acclimate them?)

and during refill or something i might be cleaning up the drift wood because it is kind of filthy, that'll be alright too right?

i am just really excited, i have a bottle of co2 tank filled, 60 pounds of eco coming, and my regulator kit will arrive on thursday or friday. so it'll be a big step for me and my new tank, i hope they fish will like the new setup and lots lots lots of plants

Clean plastic storage containers work quite well , I like using the ones that are opaque rather than transparent or translucent as it helps keep the fish calmer.
I'd suggest running the filter on your holding tank. This will allow you plenty of time to work without worrying about time constraints.
Once you get everything back in order I'd still suggest using some of the old substrate, I like shallow containers like a shallow bowl or plate. I know eco-complete has bacteria, I just like erring on the side of caution.
Good luck with it!

^_^[hr width='40%']"Cause you can't jump the track,we're like cars on a cable
and life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button girl,
So cradle your head in you hands
And breathe, just breathe..."

What water are you using in the storage container? Just drain your tank water into the container and when it's full move the fish and filter. I would try to save at least 50% of the tank water so the fish don't potentially get shocked. Also for the temperature I would put a heater on the container to keep the temp stable and leave the main one in the tank to heat up the new water before moving the fish back. Don't change any filter media for about 2 weeks before and after you change the substrate over. I don't know if I'd clean the driftwood. Maybe just rinse it off but scrubbing will remove any good bacteria it might have. It still might be good to save some of the gravel.


Last edited by sham at 15-May-2005 14:11

yeah i will use tank water to temporary store my fish. but my filter is a hang-on-tank type so i think i will just add an air stone while i work. for the heater... i dont have 2 sticks, only one, my tank isnt that big for 2 heaters, so maybe covering the container to keep the water temp more constant?

i guess i will put some old gravel in some plastic cups and leave them in the tank for a week... i just dont want to mix up the colors.

Your going to lose all the bacteria in the filter if you don't run it on the container. My hang on filters will work on a storage container. I've done it several times. All I have to do is take off the extension tube for the intake. Otherwise make sure you save plenty of gravel because within an hour of no water movement the bacteria starts to die. EC by itself will come nowhere near completely cycling a fully stocked tank. For heaters you can just go pick up a cheap one for around $5-$8 from places like walmart. It won't have numbers on it. You can set the temperature by putting it in the container and turning the knob until the light comes on then backing it up a little so the light goes off again. It will hold the temp right about there. Just make sure to unplug heaters if you take out enough water for them to be uncovered or they'll burn up.

Last edited by sham at 16-May-2005 16:24

Ditto what sham said.
HOT filters work perfectly on storage containers.....and if for some reason yours doesn't you can easily bend the plastic of the container. By running it on the container you give yourself all the time you need. You wont lose or risk losing any bacteria, and the fish get their filtration. I've also used this method myself for moving the tank. Removing the filter also helps prevent any of the smaller particles from getting into the filter while your adding the new substrate. Especially with eco-complete since you dont rinse I'd suggest giving the tank a light gravel hover to get any small bits up rather than sacrificing the filter (been there done that ruined two impellers actually).

^_^[hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? It's real, the pain you feel.
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."[/font]

alright, i'll try my best, looks like i'll need a deeper container then...

another thing that came up today... my angel fish laid eggs on my filter intake... i dont think there is male, only one fish guarding the eggs..... so looks like i'll post pone the swapping till further info on the eggs