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I want to switch my two tank stocks around but I need to put sand in the 75g first. Could I just do a small water change with the fish in the tank. Then take out the gravel and put in the sand. Would I need to take the fish out. How much of the gravel should I leave in pantyhose bags in the tank. Should I put some in my canister filter.

Hi,
Whenever you are doing something this drastic to the tank
I would always take the fish and any plants out first.
Stick them in a bucket of tank water add an airstone,
and then go to work on the tank.

Realize that with this wholescale destruction, you will
destroy the bacterial colonies that live in the substrate,
and that the tank will have to recycle. The only thing
you can do to shorten the length of the time it takes to
recycle, is to add some mulm, or gravel from the old setup
to the new. It will still take at least a couple of weeks
for the colonies to build back up to where they were.
Keep in mind that when you switch from gravel to sand you
are using smaller grains and have smaller spaces between
grains which means less circulation and an increased likly
hood of anaerobic areas in the substrate.

Placing a handfull of gravel in a pantyhose and dangling
it in the tank is not very efficient. The water must flow
through and between the individual grains and can't this
way. This way only the exposed surfaces are doing any good.
Placing the gravel in the filter is not very good either.
Spreading a cup full of the upper surface of the old gravel
among the new in the tank is the fastest. Many hide the
old in the back behind plants or a piece of driftwood or an
ornament.

There is simply no easy way to switch substrates. This is
simply the least traumatic on the tank critters.

Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

greenmonkey51


Prepare at least 20 new water you could require this for topping up.

I personally would completly empty the tank, save all the water and at least 2-3Kg of the old substrate.
Do not empty the filter but keep it going with the stored old tank water. This will keep the bacteria alive

Replace with the sand and the water, then the filter.

Put as much of the old Substrate as you can in several panty hose parcels. Bury these these to help assist in geting the bacteria going. Leave a little of the panty hose exposed so that you can find them again. At least one very close to the filter inlet.

Also add some good Bio Starter to give the tank a boost of good bacteria. You might have to add a prescribed amount every day for several days.

It looks like Frank and myself were writing these at the same time.
I hope this helps

Keith

Last edited by keithgh at 05-Aug-2005 01:19

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Im going to transfer half of my stock to my 20g first. I was going to setup a water aging system so I can keep about 60gs of the water. I'll get some cycle too.

I would take the fish &amp; plants out &amp; remember to rinse the sand a couple of times, before placing it in your tank.


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