Changing Gravel To Sand

[-SPB-]

My 4ft tanks looks nice, but i like the idea of sand. Also some of the bottom dwellers i have would much prefer sand. Theres probably been a topic about this somewhere.
But, what would be the easiest way to change. Am i going to have to go through the painfull process of removing it with the fish still in. (i don't have anohter tank to put them in).

Advice would be brill.

Also play sand or sand from the lfs?? (i'm liking the idea of black sand)

 

[Lhutch]

i would get your fish out for their sake
get a tub or something a walmart plop em in there and act quik, i would use argonite coral sand stuff,or if u want black u could use tahitan moon sand,i wouldnt buy any black sand enless its that because there dyes in regular sand to make it look black when tahitan is actually black

 

[-SPB-]

It's not anything definate, but something i'm looking into, the gravel i have now looks ok, but, i think sand would look even better, but if it caused any harm to my fish then i would'nt try as i'm fairly new to the hobby!!!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

next time you do a water change, just take off the plastic cylinder part of the siphon and use the hose by itself to suck out all the gravel. if you have any left over, you can probably just take it out with a small paper/plastic cup

 

[Danno]

i would get your fish out for their sake
get a tub or something a walmart plop em in there and act quik, i would use argonite coral sand stuff,or if u want black u could use tahitan moon sand,i wouldnt buy any black sand enless its that because there dyes in regular sand to make it look black when tahitan is actually black

Do NOT use Aragonite sand for a freshwater tank unless you plan on housing African Cichlids. Aragonite sand (now-a-days) buffer the pH to around 8.0 - 8.2.

I would suggest rinsed play sand, rinsed pool sand, or some of that expensive (but veerry) nice Tropic Isle Tahitian Moon sand