Changing Gravel

[Dana C]

I would like to change the gravel in my tank as I don't like the colour anymore. Should I change it all in one go or half one week and the rest the week after? Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[BettaUK]

I would like to change the gravel in my tank as I don't like the colour anymore. Should I change it all in one go or half one week and the rest the week after? Thanks in advance for any advice

Hi Dani,

There is a good advice page Here on changing gravel in an aquarium.

HTH
Lawrence

 

[Dana C]

Thanks for that link it was very helpful, looks like this is going to be harder than I thought

 

[lankey89]

I have to say i have never listened to any of that. Fish are in the water not the gravel so if the bacteria's in the water that's fine. I changed my substrate 4 times last year until i found the right one. All i did was put the fish into buckets, switch the substrate and put all the old water and the fish back in. Its worked on all occasions and have had no deaths from stress or not being enough of the right bacteria.

 

[timmystood]

Wow! Putting your fish into a bucket! - I can understand if there all goldfish but doing this with Tropics and not losing any is pretty impressive in my mind!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I took out everything when I changed to sand in my coldwater and it was fine. Did the whole lot in one go with no problems and very happy fish. But my tank had been going for a couple of years and the filter was well able to make up any shortfall from removing the gravel. I personally don't think there's so much bacteria in the gravel that a healthy filter couldn't take over.

Do it bit by bit of you want to. You wouldn't necessarily have to remove the fish that way either depending on your tank size.

 

[CBTF]

Those steps seem like too much. My knowledge is limited but maybe I can help.

Don't replace your filter for starters. It's argued that the tank will stabilize faster with new gravel if you have an old filter cartridge full of bacteria.

 

[Marcos]

I'm planning on doing this very soon. The fish will be going into a new plastic dustbin together with the majority of the tank's water, a heater and my internal filter while I work on the tank.

 

[Dana C]

Thanks for all your advice, I am planning on doing this next week so if I can get a friend to help I should be able to get it done quickly.

 

[shrimply]

Wow! Putting your fish into a bucket! - I can understand if there all goldfish but doing this with Tropics and not losing any is pretty impressive in my mind!

Why as long as the fish aren't out of the tank that long there shouldn't be a problem. You could even put your heater out the tank into the bucket.