Substrate Exchange

[TomShootsPhoto]

Hello everyone!


I have gravel in my tank, and decided to change it. I am looking for sand, but don't exactly know what color or type.
What do you recommend? I hear that sand is better than gravel. I find my gravel really hard to clean too.
I have a bristlenose catfish, can it clean the sand?


And also, when doing a substrate change, what do I do with the fishes? Can I do a 100% water change, or is it bad for them?

All help appreciated!

 

[snake007]

Use argos play sand 3 pound for 15kg

Sand is suppose to be better than gravel but I havent had any luck with it.
Yep your BN will prefer it.
If its anything like my plec, he dig up the sand and cause a mess.
You can leave the fishes in there or you could take it out and drain the water.
I done it with the fishes in there.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

How can you exchange the gravel with the fish in there?
Won't they die?

Anyway, my bn is really calm, he just chills under a tree all day So i guess it wont be a problem.
Any difference between colors?

 

[snake007]

Na they wont die, All I did was take the biggest jug I could find, scoop all the gravel into a bucket.
Wash sand, put sand in, let it settle for a while.
If you washed it properly your water shouldn't really turn cloudy.
Make sure you turn your filter off while putting the sand in, wouldnt want sand in your filter clogging it up.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

All right, thanks! Does the color of the sand matter?

 

[raptorrex]

Hello everyone!


I have gravel in my tank, and decided to change it. I am looking for sand, but don't exactly know what color or type.
What do you recommend? I hear that sand is better than gravel. I find my gravel really hard to clean too.
I have a bristlenose catfish, can it clean the sand?


And also, when doing a substrate change, what do I do with the fishes? Can I do a 100% water change, or is it bad for them?

All help appreciated!

a method i use, and am told works well for others is:
remove 50-75% of your water (how much depends on your fish, and their size)
switch off heater, filter and any air pumps.
remove the old substrate.
using something like a takeaway tub scoop up some washed sand.
slowly lower the container to the bottom.
taking you time, ease out the contents.
do this, slowly, till the sand covers your tank base.
top up your tank and switch on the heater.
after a couple of hours, if you have been careful, the water will have cleared, enough to switch back on the filter.
after a day, switch off the filter and remove any, accumulated sand.
job's done.

 

[Tizer]

Anyway, my bn is really calm, he just chills under a tree all day

Woah you have a tree in your tank? Must be massive!

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Haha no, it's a piece of wood Fail


But thanks for your answers!!
Does the color of the sand matter? I heard white was tough to clean!

 

[Tizer]

you dont clean sand

the dirt just sits on the top

lots of us use argos play sand coz its cheap as chips

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

So you never have to clean it?

 

[Tizer]

no ^^

Just siphon the poop off the top, you dont need to disturb it.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Doesn't the siphoon suck the sand in? And there are a lot of dangerous chemicals trapped under it?

 

[FishFanatic04]

Once in awhile you can stir it a little to let out the trapped gases, but maybe your pleco will do it for ya. Oh and keep the siphon a little above it and it shouldn't take up much sand.

Just started messing with sand myself

 

[Tizer]

the trapped gasses are harmless (stop reading all the crap that tells you otherwise) and no, you will master siphoning out poo without sand ^^

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Awesome !

What color do you recommend? I want a lighter one, but I heard that it stresses the fish out