Changing Gravel In Fish Tank

[Hunter]

IS there Any easy way to Change the gravel in your tank without emptying it. Thinking about changing the gravel but have no ideas of how to do it the tank is fully Stocked atm.
Thanks
Hunter

 

[PaBucsFan]

1. Your only safe option is to store your fish in a safe contain while you disturb the substrate and add the new substrate.
2. Removing the substrate may kick up decaying material that was hidden by your current substrate.
3. Removing your current substrate is going to send your tank into a mini-cycle as the current substrate is home to the good bacteria needed to "eat" the ammonia is your tank.

In short, I have been through this and it was a lot of trouble. While it was worth it in the end because I love my sand substrate I was completely unprepared for the repercussions of removing the substrate and stressing the fish as I crammed them in a 5 gallon tank which caused me to lose the batch if fry I saved just days earlier.

 

[CrystalClear16]

I didn't find changing from gravel to sand to much of a chore. Just emptied out half the water into a big container, caught the fish and moved them into the container, emptied out the rest of the water and decorations, scooped up the gravel and plonked in the sand.

Only took about an hour.

Admitedly getting the gravel out is the most annoying part. I scooped it into an old pair of (clean) tights and left it in the tank for a week of so after the change just to let any bacteria spread.

But yes you do need to empty the tank - this will be MUCH easier in the long run as you don't want to risk the nasties PaBucsFan outlined. Plus it will even more stressful for the fish to have gravel raining down on them (because you will drop some as you scoop it up). Doing it properly is much easier than trying to cut corners.

 

[Twinklecaz]

I'm pretty sure that unless you have an undergravel filter then your substrate doesn't hold a lot of the good bacteria atall

 

[CrystalClear16]

I'm pretty sure that unless you have an undergravel filter then your substrate doesn't hold a lot of the good bacteria atall

Yeah I am not sure it does either (even if it does I bet it doesn't matter as long as the filter is ok) - but I am paranoid XD

 

[justjon]

I did this a few weeks ago, and my advice is be ready to set aside a few hours at the bare minimum, this is very well worth it in my opinion but don't go in unprepared!

Have a container ready to hold your fish, then transfer them with heater and get straight to work, empty as much of the water as you can, preferably atleast 3 quarters of it.

Keep as much water as you can.

Start scooping, and be ready for a lot of pooping!.. It'll just go black.

Get as much gravel out as you possibly can, remember to do this carefully as to not scratch any of the side-panel of glass.

Pour in your sand, top up your water, make sure the water temp is OK and if so put the fish back.

NOTE: Make sure your filter is OFF whilst the sand is settling, and make sure you wash all your sand until water runs clear... Although people say the toy play sand is OK to use, I've heard it's a nightmare to wash clean, so I just spent out and got a big 25kg bag of aquarium sand, 3 washes and it was ready to go.

If you can also, wash the sand out before starting work on the tank, it'll save you time and hassle mid-way whilst your fish are being stressed.

Edit: Noticed you didn't mention sand, but same rule applies really.

 

[Harlequins]

When i changed my gravel to sand,i took out the decors and doing half of the tank at a time and
using 3-4 buckets and a large tube and sucked the gravel up through the tube into the buckets.
Obviously you will suck up water has well Then i replaced it with well washed sand and gently lowered it to the bottom of the tank jug full at a time.
Then repeated to the other half of the tank

All fishes were fine,never spiked and it cleared in less than an hour

 

[Shaman]

I bought a bag of B&Q play sand the other day with the intention of replacing my substrate.

I thought "Great. Play Sand! Should be nice and clean"

With a few small scoops in an old washing up bowl, after an hour the water was just getting clean! That sands now in the shed. Will have to invest in some "proper" sand afterall!

Shaman

 

[FishTankCrazy]

I bought a bag of B&Q play sand the other day with the intention of replacing my substrate.

I thought "Great. Play Sand! Should be nice and clean"

With a few small scoops in an old washing up bowl, after an hour the water was just getting clean! That sands now in the shed. Will have to invest in some "proper" sand afterall!

Shaman

The sand I buy From Argos for £2.99 is brilliant I've used it twice and never had to clean it