ghent_3rd
Fish Addict
The question is exactly what it says above. I re-aquascpaed with nearly a 50% water change 3 or 4 days ago and was expecting a spike on one of my parameters at least but apart from what look likes in my kit as the smallest bit of nitrite( less than 0.1 ) nothing else is showing!!
There is a few plants that will make the most of nitrates and I also added a pretty well run internal fluval alongside my standard Rio 180 filter to make sure the tank could cope with the change from gravel to sand, a 50% water change and the filter being off for a couple of hours but everything has gone sooooo much better than I had hoped for!!
One little tip, when I changed over I took my sponges out of the Rio filter and put them in bucket of tank water with a fluval 1 internal switched on in the bucket. I am pretty sure this is the reason I have had a pretty smooth change over.
Any comments..........
There is a few plants that will make the most of nitrates and I also added a pretty well run internal fluval alongside my standard Rio 180 filter to make sure the tank could cope with the change from gravel to sand, a 50% water change and the filter being off for a couple of hours but everything has gone sooooo much better than I had hoped for!!
One little tip, when I changed over I took my sponges out of the Rio filter and put them in bucket of tank water with a fluval 1 internal switched on in the bucket. I am pretty sure this is the reason I have had a pretty smooth change over.
Any comments..........
Just something to consider. Your methods sound good though, Im pleased it went well for you. My gravel contained so much detritus, when I changed to sand I just took all my fish out and re-cycled from scratch. 
