Changing Substrate

[frankie2]

first of all hello !this is my first post , am running a jewel rio 180 , all is well with the tank and fishi have stocked over the past 6 months , 2 angels , 4 rainbows , guppys , plattys ( which a we speak are producing fry in the trap ), buenas aries tetras X 6 , red eye tetra x 6 , x4 cardinal tetras , and my pride and joy gold nugget pleco .

am realy pleased with tank apart from the substrate , which is plain gravel !! I realy would like to change for black sand ? but as my tank is running what would be the best and less stress to the fish and my self ??? thanks in advance for any replys

 

[moochy13]

i would get the biggest watertight container you can find, empty your tank water, ornaments, plants and fish into it aswell as your heater and filter. then you can quickly and easily get rid of the gravel and put the sand in. sand can be put in while water is in the tank, but its hard work and for a few hours your water will be cloudy, and sand will settle on everything.

saying that, aren't the juwel filters glued to the side of the tank ? ive no experience of removing them, it is possible though as my juwel filter came from a new juwel tank that my mate had.

i think even just the heater would be good enough as long as the container was nice and big. and make sure its clean.

 

[frankie2]

i would get the biggest watertight container you can find, empty your tank water, ornaments, plants and fish into it aswell as your heater and filter. then you can quickly and easily get rid of the gravel and put the sand in. sand can be put in while water is in the tank, but its hard work and for a few hours your water will be cloudy, and sand will settle on everything.

saying that, aren't the juwel filters glued to the side of the tank ? ive no experience of removing them, it is possible though as my juwel filter came from a new juwel tank that my mate had.

i think even just the heater would be good enough as long as the container was nice and big. and make sure its clean.

thanks for the reply sounds like its gonna be fun for a few hours ! am worried of the stress to fish and my water ?

http/www.juwel-aquarium.de/en/filter_full.htm

 

[moochy13]

the bigger the container the less cramped your fish will feel. i suggested dumping any ornaments, wood and plants in as it will give them somewhere to hide, which should reduce their stress. obviously you should still be trying to do the change pronto, but your fish wouldnt be in immediate danger. bare in mind what fish go through when being posted to people/delivered to shops. an hour or 2 in a big container with nice heated water and all their buddies shouldnt be a problem. the longest ive had a fish out of a tank is about 2 hours in a fishbag, on its own on the way back from buying it. just in a paper bag and a carrier bag.