Is It A Bad Idea To Take Out My Gravel And Add New Stuff?

[Batmanjay28]

I have a heavy planted 55G tank that houses 2 blue rams. I plan on taking out all the old gravel and adding some plant gravel that suppose to help your plants root and grow better. My tank is completely cycled and has been running for about 2 years.

Is this a good idea? Could I possibally go through a mini cycle if I change the gravel? I have 2 filters going, one is for a 55G and the other is for a 40G tank. Both have been running for 2 years.

DO you think that I could do this without hurting the fish and putting the tank into a mini cycle?

If you have suggestions please help. Thank you

 

[Majjie]

It would probably be ok - most of the bacteria will be in the filters and heavily planted tanks are more forgiving anyway - the plants will take up some ammonia. Two rams doesn't exactly sound like a high bio-load. Is that all the fish in the tank?

You could always leave some of the original gravel on top of the plant substrate, if it wouldn't spoil the look - or you could fill up the ends of a couple of ladies tights (I'm sure you have a spare pair ) with the old gravel, if you're worried, and leave those in the tank for a couple of weeks.

 

[mark.w.jones]

I have a heavy planted 55G tank that houses 2 blue rams. I plan on taking out all the old gravel and adding some plant gravel that suppose to help your plants root and grow better. My tank is completely cycled and has been running for about 2 years.

Is this a good idea? Could I possibally go through a mini cycle if I change the gravel? I have 2 filters going, one is for a 55G and the other is for a 40G tank. Both have been running for 2 years.

DO you think that I could do this without hurting the fish and putting the tank into a mini cycle?

If you have suggestions please help. Thank you

Obviously the longer your filter is off for, the more bacteria will die off. You're probably alright to have it off for an hour but any more than that and you then really need to be pouring water tank water through the filter every 15minutes or so, just to keep everything alive. I reckon if you put your fish into a bucket, (with a heater if it's gonna take a long time) or ideally a spare tank, with the filters running in it that'll keep them happy. Then as mentioned above, pour old tank water through your filter every so often if need be. In the meantime, strip out your tank. Change your gravel and voila. The quicker you can do it all the better really, for your fish and your filters sake. Don't do what I did once and chuck all your old tank water away