does sand make it cycle? please help!

[fishwatcher]

Hey,
How long after your tank cycles should you wait to change out the substrate? I don't want to send it back into a cycle again, if possible, since I do have fish in there. Also, just wondering if you can make colored sand? Like maybe with food coloring-type dye? If not, do you know where to buy it from? I'd like a dark blue sand, but all I can find around here is white.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

They sell coloured play sand at the Home Depot by my house. It is three times the price of regular play sand. I think the bags are the same size, but I don't remember. I am pretty sure I saw blue though.

 

[OohFeeshy]

oh yeah... I forgot you can get coloured playsand... While this is being mentioned though, is there a way of dying sand? I want black sand, but most is really expensive (unless I get my dad to drive me quite far away to a place that might not even have any).

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Why do you want to change the substrate? are you changing from gravel to sand or somthing? Only a very small portion of the good bacteria resides in the substrate- the majority of it is in the filter, so changing it shouldn't cause your tank to mini cycle as long as you wash and dry it properly before putting it into the tank.
You should be able to get colored sand at your lfs, if they don't sell it on the shelves they should be able to order some for you- i can get black, red, blue, yellow, white and green sand at my lfs