Changing Substrate.. Best Way?

[jenny6165]

when i got my tank, i put some multicoloured gravel in, which im now regretting. id really like to go natural and am thinking about going to sand, or black gravel... ok i know black gravel isnt natural.

how easy is it to do? i realise i would have to move all the fish out, where would i put them as i dont have a spare tank? and would they need to be moved with filter and heater? or just heater?

also, would i have to take out all the water? or could i change it with is still full with water.

also, how manageable is sand compared to gravel? how do u clean it? i have a gravel vac, but i imagine that would just suck up all the sand

 

[blackbat]

buckets!

 

[madmom]

I'm using a gravel vac on my sand and as long as I didn't touch the sand directly I've had no problems. Just hold it slightly above the sand and the wastes are siphoned up.

 

[andyt_uk]

when i got my tank, i put some multicoloured gravel in, which im now regretting. id really like to go natural and am thinking about going to sand, or black gravel... ok i know black gravel isnt natural.

how easy is it to do? i realise i would have to move all the fish out, where would i put them as i dont have a spare tank? and would they need to be moved with filter and heater? or just heater?

also, would i have to take out all the water? or could i change it with is still full with water.

also, how manageable is sand compared to gravel? how do u clean it? i have a gravel vac, but i imagine that would just suck up all the sand

i just did this yesterday!
well it took about a week of gradually removing gravel till it was all gone (well almost)
i then vacced the bottom to remove any as much dirt as i could.
i got a bag of play sand from argos, added about 3-4 inches in the bottom of a 10litre bucket and filled with water, stired it all up so it almost felt like the bottom didnt have sand in (you'll know what i mean when you do it) then let it settle for about 20-30 seconds and poured the water off.
repeat the water process 3 * then scoop the sand in with a mug, small tub / dish etc, lower to the bottom of the tank and pour in ..

repeat till all sand used or bottom covered as desired

the only water i removed is that which came out when i cleaned the bottom.
fish and other decorations remained in situ, i just moved things about till the bottom was covered.

not a good idea to add more than about an inch due to risk of anerobic gas pockets

this resulted in zero cloudiness, fish are happy, small amounts of suspended sand in the tank have since settled on the wood and rocks etc, but the fish and fingers will soon knock that off..

 

[jenny6165]

hmm thats a good idea. might try that

 

[andyt_uk]

as a little apprehensive myself, add a small amount first, if your water goes too cloudy rethink, but you cold hardly tell i had done anything looking at the water quality.
if you wash the sand well as described you should be fine

its deffo worth it - looks so much better and seems better for planting in

 

[methodmza_uk]

I did it exactly the same as Andyt_uk about 4 weeks ago.
Looks excellent and my plants are nice and healthy and my fish are lovin it.
Its easy to use a gravel vac too. Just have to stir it around about an inch above the sand it pics up all the dirt etc...it does pic up some sands but not a lot, and it is expected.
I love it now, much better than gravel, in my opinion anyway.

Here is my tank with new sand. Get some pics up when you have changed, be good to see what it looks like.