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I want to change the gravel that i have in my aquarium. How can i do it should remove the fish then remove the old gravel and add the new ones. I put the fish in the bowl. I want to get gravel which r blue color will effect the fish. Coz maybe most bacteria will die. 10x plz I need quick reply My tank is a 10 gal but maybe i will upgrade it in the same time i have 2 walking catfish and 1 oscar and a pleco common and a rainbow shark and a silver dollar

Paul,

Can you give us more details about your tank, like:

- size
- fish (species and numbers)
- current substrate (like plain gravel or what? )

Basically, I think you are on the right track with the change procedure. Take out some of the water and fill it in a temporary housing container. Put the fish in there, remove the rest of the water and change the gravel.

I would suggest not to clean the filter at this time and also to bag some of the old gravle (as much as you can) in a net that you then will place into the changed tank on top of the new gravel so that some of the bacteria can help you avoid a cycle.

Personally though - I don't find blue gravel very appealing, but that is just my opinion. I like natural colors better (or black)

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ai...

You have some fish that will grow LARGE, way too large for your 10 gallon sir. An oscar will need a minimum tank size of 50 gallons as well as your common pleco. The walking catfish I'm not too sure, but I know they will need a tank larger than 10 gallons (they grow over atleast half a foot i think) and your rainbow shark and silver dollar will also need a MUCH larger tank. Pretty much...you're tank is way too small, and will need a tank size of a minimum, bare minimum, of 50 gallons, and I think with the fish you have other than the oscar, you will need larger if you want to keep them all.

Everyone makes the mistake of buying fish that seem small, but really they grow really large. If you keep them in a small tank, what you are doing is stunting their growth. This will cause the to live ALOT shorter lives. Their inside organs and stuff will continue to grow, but their body will not, so everything inside gets crammed and that causes health problems, which will lead to early, early death. I recommend you return all your fish, trade them, get store credit, whatever you can do. Do ALOT of research on fish BEFORE you buy them. We've all had mistakes like this, but the best thing to do is think of what's best for your fishes.

Sorry I can't help you with your gravel problem, but it shouldn't be a problem because if you're returning your fish (I really hope you do, they get large) then you won't have to worry about moving the fish because there will be none.

May I suggest you get some beautiful male/female guppies? Excellent fish to start off with, they have many varities of colours, pretty much all beautiful, and they will have babies! Babies R Fun!

In additon to what LF said, make sure to keep the filter running on the temporary holding container. The bacteria need O2 to survive.

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Back in the saddle!

Definately upgrade I think, those fish are fast growers!

I like to siphon out the old gravel as scooping it out can scrape the glass. Just use a big tube and keep tipping the excess water back in

And take the fish out first

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

The only thing that you can do to keep your fish, is upgrade your tank. Those fish wouldn't survive in a 10 gal. tank & a 55/75 gal. tank is your best bet.


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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
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If I remember I and several other members have discussed over stocking this tank regually on chat. Paul I am sorry to say if you do not listen to the well meaning advice you will end up loosing all those fish through deaths caused by the overstocking.
Finally I will PM you somevery usefull and important information which you "MUST" consider.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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