Changing from gravel to sand

[rosietoo]

Hello All,

I am thinking of changing one of my tanks over from gravel to sand today.

I'm planning on putting the fish in a bucket of tank water whilst doing this. As it's quite a warm day, do you think I'll need to add a heater to the bucket, or do I not need to bother?

 

[smooth_bourbon]

spose it all depends on how long the fish will be int he bucket. IMO think you will need to add an air supply before you will have a problem with the temp.

 

[fatboybaby]

ooh update us on how it goes as i am thinking of doing the same!

my lfs told me if i was going to do this that i should put all my old gravel in a pair of nylon tights and leave it on top of the sand for a few weeks so the bacteria can move house.

 

[rosietoo]

Am still dithering about where or not to take the plunge!!!!

I've read the very helpful pinned post on this, and have the nylon stocking at the ready! Actually, its a pop-sock, but I don't think the bacteria will notice the difference....

Have got to go to somewhere for a few spare buckets now, just popped into sainsburys and they were about £6 each, eek!

 

[emma12321]

ASDA 97p for a 10 litre bucket

 

[Dubby]

Go for it Rosietoo!! I changed over to sand a long time ago and I have had no reason to repent.

Another place for cheap buckets would be Wilkinsons.

If you have lots of fish you could use a plastic stackable storage box instead !!!

 

[Ava_Banana]

I went sand in one of my tanks............and I love the look..........

However.......it will take a while to clear...........what filtration do you have running on the tank? If it is the same filter you will be using then you shouldn't need the sock.

 

[keane]

I did exactly this, this weekend but from sand back to gravel.

Took me nearly three hours. Twenty x 2" - 3" Malawi fish in two buckets for at least an hour. No problems with heat. No problems with oxygen.

Did have one jump out of a bucket without me realising though.

It must have been out of water for no less than half an hour before I noticed!! Picked her up, put her in a catch net and gently swayed her in the water for a minute or two then let her go.

She was a little quiet for a while but back to normal after that .

The only things I would suggest when changing over are: -

1. Don't put tank water in the buckets. Put clean, fresh, conditioned water in. More oxygen etc.

2. Get as much gravel out of the tank as you can BEFORE you take any fish out. It might make the water mucky but your fish will be out of it shortly after. This will allow you to get your fish back in to the tank as quickly as possible.

3. Get rid of 2/3 of your tank water before you take fish out. Again it saves you time while your fish are in the buckets.

4. Turn off your heaters!! I nearly made this misstake this weekend but realised just in time.

Can't think of much else just yet but if I do I will let you know.

steve

 

[rosietoo]

Thanks for your replies!

The tank is a Juwel rio 125, filter sponges will all be staying place....so maybe I don't need to bother with the sock full of gravel?

Steve, that's a good point about putting fresh water in the bucket, rather than tank water, I think I'll do that (with water conditioner, of course!) Could I ask why you changed from sand back to gravel?

 

[pnyklr3]

I regret NOT having heated the buckets my fish were in. During the recent switch from gravel to sand, the buckets cooled off too much, and my clown loaches got ich. No other fish did, though, luckily. *Clown loaches are ich magnets* Didn't haev to worry about oxygen so much, because there was plenty there for the amount of time they were in the buckets. Just my experience, though.