substrate switch?

[freshienow]

Right now I have gravel in my tank and I want to switch it to sand for several reasons. 1-I have read that African dwarf frogs have very sensitive skin and gravel can damage this, also they like to burrow and hide under my driftwood and fake plant and I do not want the gravel to shift and them be crushed. 2-I like sand better.
Is there an easy way to o this? Should I do this? Will it harm the fish/frogs? Anything else I should address?

[catfishlover106]

just take the fishes out and put them in a container or another tank thats empty thats been cycled already and then just take half the water from the tank over to the fishes other temp. tank and just scoop the gravel out and just get the sand a wash and agitate the sand alot until its clear in the bucket where your cleaning it with a hose then just scoop the sand out when you remove the water from the bucket. Then Fill the tank with new water thats conditioned and if it gets cloudy...don't worry most likely it would but if you want to not have the cloudy water from the sand just clean it thoroughly, and don't just take 10-15 minutes washing the sand...you have to take the time and do it properly

[freshienow]

Ok, I'll try and follow those directions to a T. Thanks

[morganj157]

i just turned my filter off cleaned the sand, removed the gravel and rocks and whatnot and slowly put the sand in the tank then scooped the floaties off the top and turned my filter on the whole process took around 20minutes

[freshienow]

was the water cloudy?

[Lord Barium]

Be warned that sand is harder to clean.

[freshienow]

Ok, thanks for the warning.

[catfishlover106]

actaully many say they are harder to clean but really its not...all you need to do is sift through the sand every now and then like when you do your weekly water changes or every 2 weeks...your choice and when you get all the crap and junk out on the top of the sand just syphon them away with the syphoning tube 1/2" or an 1" away from the sand...=] or if you want just get a powerhead and let a current flow through the tank and let the current move all the crap and lil thing i think called detritus and flow into the intake tube of the filter and or it lets it move to one spot of the tank and its easier to take out...plus it helps your tank to not have any stagnant spots in the tank that can build up with junk and just all of those things thats dirty

[freshienow]

Ok, siphoning sounds like a good idea.

[freshienow]

I took out all the gravel and rinsed the sand a lot before putting it in my tank, and I have to say it is STUNNING, didn't know such an itty bitty 10 gallon could look so good lol.

[catfishlover106]

lol see its quite rewarding when using sand as your substrate:D