How To Go About Substrate Changes

[Lokemer]

so as of right now my 30g wide has a gravel substrate and i really want to change it to sand, is there a way i can go about such a task with out taking my fish out of the tank?

 

[fatheadminnow]

If you go about this without taking out the fish, you are going to give your self a lot of headaches.

Also, when sand is put into a fish tank, it makes the water very murky in the beginning, and this would not be suitable for fish.

It can take hours to days for the water to clear.

You are best to take the fish out and out them into another tank or bucket, and then put the filter, heater and lights on the temporary tank.

Then you can either scoop out the gravel and dump the sand in (Not recommended), or empty the tank out completely, and then switch over the substrate.

-FHM

 

[Lokemer]

i figured i would have to empty it out....but the problem is it sort of has my Dp's in it and it would be kind of dangerous to stick them all in a bucket wouldnt it?

 

[fatheadminnow]

i figured i would have to empty it out....but the problem is it sort of has my Dp's in it and it would be kind of dangerous to stick them all in a bucket wouldnt it?

Can you get a bucket of water and then put the DPs in separate bags, than stick the bags in the water?

OR

can you get some kind of dividers for the bucket?

I would not keep any fish, no matter how hardy in a tank during a substrate change, especially when going to sand.

-FHM

 

[Lokemer]

ok, i will be picking up my sand soon, i cant wait!

 

[fatheadminnow]

ok, i will be picking up my sand soon, i cant wait!

Sand is way better than gravel, IMO!

-FHM

 

[Lokemer]

how exactly amm i supposed to plant plants in it, i dont really get that part

 

[fatheadminnow]

how exactly amm i supposed to plant plants in it, i dont really get that part

In sand?

Well, usually you would put a layer of plant substrate on the bottom, like Eco Complete.

Than put sand over that, or just keep the plant substrate and nothing over that.

Than what I do is don't bury the entire roots, I keep a little bit above the substrate, that way they are not sealed off from trace nutrients.

I even keep the plants in the plastic pot that they came in.

-FHM