Advice On Changing Gravel In Tank

[judith]

just wonderinif you are changing gravel in your tank do you need to put fish in a separate tank and do the cyling process all over again. or do u steep it for a few days and continue changing the water til it it clean.

 

[SJ2K]

Just siphon off the water into a clean (prefferably new) black plastic bin, stick the fish in there, run the filter and heater in there.

Change the substrate, add some fresh and some old tank water to the tank, bring it up to temperature, bung it all back in and done. No cycling needed.

 

[rdd1952]

I agree with SJ2K. After you have the gravel changed, I would add the old water back in to half full, add the fish and then finish filling. Basically it's the same as a 50% water change.

 

[aaronnorth]

i changed my gravel with fish (7" plec) and more and FROGS in! they soon move out the way

 

[rdd1952]

Others have done that too. I just think it would be quicker (and less messy) to do it with the tank empty. Also much less stress on the fish with everything that is going on in their tank and no place for them to hide.

 

[businesslamb]

When I stripped and rescaped my Juwel last year I removed the fish the tetras into a 20L brewing bucket and the kribs and catfish in a 20 L quarantine tank for the day the filter of course I couldn't remove so I made a temporary filter out of an ice cream tub linked to a stingray filter. put the sponges in the tub and the whole ensamble in the brewing bucket. Once I had redone the tank and got the water up to temperature back in went the filter sponges and fish. A long days work (about 6 hours in total but no ammonia or nitrite detected over the following days

 

[judith]

thats good to know thought i was gonna have to go through the whole cycling process again.

should i leave the gravel soaking first before putting it in to give it a good wash???

 

[blue acara]

A nice way to get the gravel out is to just siphon it out-obviously you need a tube that is thick enough to get the old gravel out. If you can keep the fish in during the change it is easier for all concerned.

Yes wash the new gravel well under a tap before adding it.

 

[judith]

A nice way to get the gravel out is to just siphon it out-obviously you need a tube that is thick enough to get the old gravel out. If you can keep the fish in during the change it is easier for all concerned.

yeah but do i need to steep the new gravel for a while in water to mak sure it's clean before i put it into tank.

thats great thanks was'nt sure if that was ok to do that in case it needed a longer soak, thanks for the advice.

 

[SJ2K]

Na no need to soak, unless its non-aquarium gravel Just rinse well.

 

[judith]

thanks fo the help and advice guy's very much appreciated..