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I want to change my regular gravel out of my 10 gallon and instead replace it with a bag of flourite. Whats the easiest way to do this while preserving the beneficial bacteria in the tank?

Don't change the filter media, and when taking the old gravel out, keep ornaments submerged in buckets of tank water. Collect all the gravel and put it into panty hose and hang it inside the tank when the new substrate is down if you're worried about a mini cycle. You might want to keep NIC or Biospira on hand, but in a tank that small I wouldn't be too concerned I don't think.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I actually have been using a product from seachem called "stability". Seems to have worked great i experience no spikes.

Also what do you recomend i do with the fish just put them in a bucket or something till i get the other gravel out? I was also thinking i should be able to get the gravel out without removing the water it just might take longer.

Hi,
The easiest way to change the substrate out, regardless
of if you are going from gravel, to a plant friendly
substrate or to sand or back, is to syphon the tank
into a bucket, add the fish, place an airstone in
the bucket, hook up the fiter system to the bucket
and then remove the old substrate.

Wash the new substrate throughly, add the substrate
to the new tank, and then half fill the tank with new
water. Plant any plants where you want
them and then equate the temperature of the tank with
that of the bucket. Fill the tank the rest of the
way with the "old water," add fish, and then swap the
filter back to the tank.

Frank


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

Couldn't have thought of a better way myself. Make sure you have a couple airstones and buckets around, and you should be okay.

With new substrate, RINSE RINSE RINSE!!!

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

i have no airstones

They will be alright if you throw the filter on the bucket to move the water around or put them into a different tank for the time being if you have a hospital tank. We are only talking about an hour or two, and fish are shipped in little plastic bags for longer.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients