Best Way To Do This

[Zachary1941]

Hi,
When i bought my Jewul aquarium i did not buy the stand thats correct for it at the time..I have been using what i suppose you would call a dining room glass ware cabinet..How ever i am expecting to arrive today a Tetra Tex 1200 external filter which im going to run along side the jewul internal one ( The idea behind getting a 1200 for a 125 tank is that it will be ready for when i decide to upgrade to a larger tank) Now before it arrives i decided to do my weekly water change and at the same time give the internal filter and the tank a really good clean out gravel, glass etc ready for installing the big filter.. Heres the problem..While doing this i noticed the cabinet rocks a little from side to side .Have been using this for nearly 6 months.So will be getting the correct stand for the tank..Will also give me a opportunity to use a substrate for growing plants under the gravel as i intend to go planted...Here is my idea for this ., can you advise me if this will be o.k.... 1 .. Remove fake plants etc so apart from gravel and fish the tank is bare.
2...Have 2x new 40 litre bins (One i use for water changes) drain as much water in them as i can.
3 Fish.(3 albino catfish..6 zebras 6 Endlers and 8 harlequins) put them into one or even both bins.
4..Filter foam from internal in a bucket of tank water.
5.. External filter should be full of water so hopefully sponges etc be o,k
6..Remove gravel and clean out tank
7. change over to correct cabinet install tank and put plant substrate and gravel back on top.
Put about 6 inches and add fish.
8.. add remaining water install filters and start up.
9.. If need put the heater in one bin.. but at the moment my heater does not switch on as its been so warm and the temp is always around 76f
Right this i think will probably be about 4to 6 hours to do it correctly.. will the fish be o.k. for that length of time...And will the filter bacteria be o,k,...Any better ideas would be most welcome Regards Zac

 

[jmkgreen]

Sounds

Check your new cabinet doesn't need gluing as that often requires 24 hours to dry.

Do presumably know for certain that the filter will fit into the new cabinet? Other than that can't think of much.

 

[Zachary1941]

Sounds

Check your new cabinet doesn't need gluing as that often requires 24 hours to dry.

Do presumably know for certain that the filter will fit into the new cabinet? Other than that can't think of much.

Thanks Jmkgreen,
Will check both of them Glue and size...Apart from that you think the process will be o.k. (Regarding fish and Bacteria) Regards Zac

 

[mickspark81]

all sounds good to me

you say you plan to use 6" of substrate for your planted aquarium. This seem a little excessive to me and im sure 4" would more than be enough.

However, i'd wait maybe for a reply from a more experienced fish keeper

good luck

 

[jmkgreen]

Two inches is the standard depth for substrate.

 

[mickspark81]

got 2" of substrate also in my planted tank

 

[Zachary1941]

Two inches is the standard depth for substrate.

Hi ,
Sorry my fault.. did not explain all that well...Meant when i have approx 6 or more inches of water back into the tank(Thats water i saved from the tank previous0 ..Then add the fish... would really like to get them back into the tank as quickly as possible..Might be better to make that depth 12 inches..Sorry people, but thanks for picking me up on that Agreed 6 inches of substrate would be able to plant a tree lol Regards Zac

 

[mdwheeler]

Two inches is the standard depth for substrate.

Hi ,
Sorry my fault.. did not explain all that well...Meant when i have approx 6 or more inches of water back into the tank(Thats water i saved from the tank previous0 ..Then add the fish... would really like to get them back into the tank as quickly as possible..Might be better to make that depth 12 inches..Sorry people, but thanks for picking me up on that Agreed 6 inches of substrate would be able to plant a tree lol Regards Zac

Also don't puch too much gravel on top of the substrate: if organic matter gets trapped under the gravel into the substrate it could start to rot and cause poison to be leached into the tank.

 

[Zachary1941]

Two inches is the standard depth for substrate.

Hi ,
Sorry my fault.. did not explain all that well...Meant when i have approx 6 or more inches of water back into the tank(Thats water i saved from the tank previous0 ..Then add the fish... would really like to get them back into the tank as quickly as possible..Might be better to make that depth 12 inches..Sorry people, but thanks for picking me up on that Agreed 6 inches of substrate would be able to plant a tree lol Regards Zac

Also don't puch too much gravel on top of the substrate: if organic matter gets trapped under the gravel into the substrate it could start to rot and cause poison to be leached into the tank.

Thanks Mdwheeler,
Did not know this...Wow would no doubt have done so.. will now just cover it lightly ...How about this stuff, have you any experience using this..
FLORA ROOT
Flora root is a hard granule, high in natural laterite that is designed to be mixed with aquarium gravel, replicating the natural substrates in which aquatic plants flourish. In nature, bacteria that inhabit these substrates break down root acids, enabling the roots to take up the nutrients they require as and when they need them. (Frome Seapets)

Seapets Price: £22.99......Regards Zac

 

[mdwheeler]

Two inches is the standard depth for substrate.

Hi ,
Sorry my fault.. did not explain all that well...Meant when i have approx 6 or more inches of water back into the tank(Thats water i saved from the tank previous0 ..Then add the fish... would really like to get them back into the tank as quickly as possible..Might be better to make that depth 12 inches..Sorry people, but thanks for picking me up on that Agreed 6 inches of substrate would be able to plant a tree lol Regards Zac

Also don't puch too much gravel on top of the substrate: if organic matter gets trapped under the gravel into the substrate it could start to rot and cause poison to be leached into the tank.

Thanks Mdwheeler,
Did not know this...Wow would no doubt have done so.. will now just cover it lightly ...How about this stuff, have you any experience using this..
FLORA ROOT
Flora root is a hard granule, high in natural laterite that is designed to be mixed with aquarium gravel, replicating the natural substrates in which aquatic plants flourish. In nature, bacteria that inhabit these substrates break down root acids, enabling the roots to take up the nutrients they require as and when they need them. (Frome Seapets)

Seapets Price: £22.99......Regards Zac

Sounds great!

 

[jmkgreen]

Questions regarding substrate for plants should be in the planted tanks forum - far more experience over there!