Changing My Tank From Gravel To Sand

eurospage · Post by **eurospage** » 14 Nov 2006, 22:32

Hiya everyone, im thinking of changing my tank from gravel to sand. Was just wondering if anything could give me any tips on doing this. cheers

Crazie.Eddie · Post by **Crazie.Eddie** » 15 Nov 2006, 07:33

If you have another tank, just fill about half the tank with water with a heater and also an airstone. Then when you do water changes, put some of the water from the current tank into the new tank. After about a week or so, move the filter, decor, and fish into the new tank. Remove the substrate, then do the same thing back into the old tank.

eurospage · Post by **eurospage** » 15 Nov 2006, 09:15

Sounds good but i dont have another tank. . . . Would i still be able to change the tank or should i find a tempory home for the fish??

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 15 Nov 2006, 10:44

If you look up the subject "moving a tank" in "speak easy", you'll see how you'd go about moving a tank whilst retaining the bacteria culture in the filter and such. Doing the same thing without actually moving the tank to replace the substrate.

It's probably a good idea to get some net-bags (well washed panty-hose would probably work wonders) to stash some of the old substrate in the tank for some days after the substrate change to help transfer the "good bacteria" in the old substrate to the new substrate.

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Mats

eurospage · Post by **eurospage** » 15 Nov 2006, 10:51

cool thanks for the advice. i might have a project this weekend then. By the way i think you aquarium looks awesome.

Crazie.Eddie · Post by **Crazie.Eddie** » 15 Nov 2006, 16:16

eurospage wrote:Sounds good but i dont have another tank. . . . Would i still be able to change the tank or should i find a tempory home for the fish??

A temp or home would be good or maybe how about borrowing a tank from someone?

You can use pots and pans, but it would be best to house the fish in there for a long time. I would hate to do the move all at once, without letting the water age first, UNLESS you know exactly you do not have chlorine/chloramines in your water.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 15 Nov 2006, 16:27

Crazie.Eddie: Did you read my suggestion in the other thread, which is essentially storing all (or most) of the water from the tank, and putting back the water again...

It should work fine to do that.

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Mats

Crazie.Eddie · Post by **Crazie.Eddie** » 15 Nov 2006, 16:47

Sorry, since it's not my post, I didn't bother doing the research for him. I figured you meant for the original poster to the search and not everyone else. Oh well, I guess I have to pay attention. The suggestion I gave was from past experience.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 15 Nov 2006, 17:06

Yes, I meant for the original poster to search, but I also wanted to make sure you weren't saying that my method WOULD NOT work, as my method involves "pots and pans"... I have not done exactly what I suggested, but I have moved my fish-tanks using the method I described in another post. I don't THINK there's much difference between moving the tank and re-substrtating it...

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Mats

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 21 Nov 2006, 15:30

eurospage: Did you change the substrate over the weekend?

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Mats

eurospage · Post by **eurospage** » 22 Nov 2006, 20:19

hello mat, i did manage to change it. It was abit of a task but all went well and the water conditions are still stable which is Brill. The only problem is that with the sand you can obviously see that dirt alot more than gravel. Further more i find it rather difficult to clean the sand. starting to get better. Could you or ANYONE else point me in the right direction to cleaing the sand the most efficent way? Many thanks

Euros Page

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 23 Nov 2006, 10:20

Indeed, sand has the drawback that "muck" doesn't sink into it.

I find using a gravel-vac CAREFULLY will remove the muck without removing (much) of the sand...

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Mats

Iporangensis Headach · Post by **Iporangensis Headach** » 27 Nov 2006, 00:17

I have just done this, have a look here

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?t=17852

eurospage · Post by **eurospage** » 29 Nov 2006, 19:01

cool your tank loks really nice with the loaches. Guess your not putting any more plants init then. lol

butterfly · Post by **butterfly** » 01 Dec 2006, 19:03

eurospage- I have three tanks with sand in them and really like them, I just had to change my mind set about how to clean them

If you just kind of wave the siphon tube above the sand it will pick up the debris without sucking all your sand out. Also some Malaysian Trumpet Snails to keep the sand stirred is very beneficial.
Carol

eurospage · Post by **eurospage** » 02 Dec 2006, 18:53

Yeah thanks im starting to get better at cleaning it now. Cool i will have to look out for them snails. Many thanks for your advice