Switching From Under Gravel

[Robert 208]

Hi

I have a 20 gallon (UK) hexagonal tank. I want to switch from power head driven under gravel filter to a cartridge type filter/pump. I also want to switch from 3-4mm gravel to sand mixed with 1mm gravel.

How long should I run the new filter in the tank before I can remove the gravel, under gravel filter base disc and the power head?

Can I speed this up? I thought by switching off the UGF for fours a day might speed things up?

Tank has 2 clown loach and 6 tiger barbs.

Hope someone can help.

 

[yvez9]

these fish will outgrow your tank but to answer your q

two weeks is usualyl long enough to establish a new filter in an already established tank

 

[WILDER]

Right the clown loaches need a much larger tank than the 20gal, eventually they will need up to 90gals, that tank is way to small for them, run the filter for a while in the tank till you build the bacteria colony up, you will have to remove the fish from the tank when you remove the undergravel filters, plus i wouldn't advise mixing gravel and sand as it an eye sore when it mixes together, one or the other.