Substrate Change Going Wrong, Help!

[kniesh]

Hi, I amin the middle of a substrate change right now, on my 36 gal. I have emptied the water except for a drain, the fish are ok in a large container with the heater an plants.

My problem is that I was going to leave a small amount of gravel in the bottom with some dirty water, only a cm or so. So to have less chance of a mini cycle. Is this ok or should I get rid of all the old substrate?

 

[emma12321]

I would get rid of it all from the bottom of the tank, you could put some of the old gravel in the leg of a pair of tights and lay it on top of your new gravel for 2-3 weeks for the bacteria to move across. Make sure you keep the filter media wet while you do the change over as most of the bacteria is in that.

Emma

 

[kniesh]

yeah, I'mactually not gonna clean the filter untill a few weeks at least now to keep all the bacterria in it. Its ina tub of tank weater now waiting to go back. Thx.