Tank Makeover

[Stevolution]

Hi,

Can you redesign a 240L tank without removing the fish? I want to replace my substrate, redesign the layout and put in a load of new plants and other features. But I've still got about 10 fish alive in there and don't want to stress them out by moving them if possible. Can I do all that with them in there or should I move them out?

Thanks in advance

 

[gwand]

I would remove the fish from the tank. This is especially true if you’re going to remove old substrate and add new substrate to the tank. That has to be incredibly stressful for the fish.

 

[Stevolution]

Thanks. I'm looking at substrate - I like the look of gravel so want to have that, but feel like I should have compost to benefit the plants. Can I go compost with gravel on top? Is there a recommended compost for this?

 

[GaryE]

You aren't going to get adequate answers in a few typed paragraphs. There's a whole hobby of dirted tanks - not with compost but with soils, capped by sand and gravel. I would start researching.
Be aware there are some crackpot approaches on youtube. If it looks too easy, seems magical and is stated with absolute authority by old bearded men, scroll away. It isn't the hardest thing to do, but too easy is to be suspected.

The best source is a book most people are too lazy to read, by Diana Walstad.

Dirted tanks are for people who put plants first. It isn't my approach as a fish guy, because it severely limits the species of fish you can keep, and the soil needs to be redone every couple of years. But you will find people here who do this. It just helps if you research the basics to know what questions to ask. You'll have a few. We had a presentation on this in our local aquarium club, and the different perspectives and ways of doing things were really interesting.

Whatever you do short term, plan well. You'll have to remove the fish (what fish are they?) or the process may kill them.

 

[Stevolution]

Thanks for the reply. The fish are African long fin tetra, black widow, Empire gudgeon, hillstream loach and giant danio