Can my fish handle it?

[Buphy]

Any recommendations on removing all the gravel? My syphon is just a Gravity syphon so I don't think its strong enough to pick the gravel up.

 

[pops]

I have removed gravel more than a few times. pulling the fish out, siphoning out and using a clean dust pan works great. while there no reason not to scrub the tank down well, do what you going to do as far as substrate, add water add fish. never done with a tank as small as a 55, but had no issues with fish or tank.

 

[pops]

fish be fine in a 5g bucket for an hour or 2. if you leave 50% of water in it is going to make be a murky mess, and will need to clean all filters once sparked up and tank cleared out.

 

[Buphy]

I was actually planning on taking all the water out (after removing the fish), removing all the gravel, add the slate bottom, add 1/2 the water I took out, and then add new fresh water for the rest.

 

[pops]

no need to add old water, it is just that, old water. nothing beneficial about it. add all new water treated with prime.

 

[skjl47]

I was actually planning on taking all the water out (after removing the fish), removing all the gravel, add the slate bottom, add 1/2 the water I took out, and then add new fresh water for the rest.

Hello; First about removing the gravel. A siphon will remove the gravel if the diameter is enough for it to pass easy. I doubt that all can be removed with just the water in the tank. As you plan to remove the fish, then water can be added as needed to do it all by siphon.
Because the fish and other decor will be removed, you can scoop the gravel out. I like to use the square plastic tubs found around a kitchen. They can scoop the gravel into corners.

Next; Why plan to re-use a part of the old water? If the idea is to use it for the bb, the current thinking is that the bb are very little in the water. Just add all new water. Keep the submersible filter parts and filter media, some of the gravel and perhaps any decor or other tank stuff you plan to re-use in some water, perhaps with a bubbler. As long as the change does not take a long time (many days) the bb should be fine.

Another thing I do is keep a sponge filter in my Quarantine tank. I can throw that in the fish holding bucket with air running it. The sponge filter will be loaded with bb that will be kept alive by the fish in the bucket. The sponge filter can be placed into the new setup if you have any concerns about having active bb.

Good luck

 

[Buphy]

So a 100% water change isn't a problem? If that's th case then it'll be a 100% change.

 

[skjl47]

So a 100% water change isn't a problem? If that's th case then it'll be a 100% change.

Hello; I see no reason not to. A suggestion when adding the fish to the new setup. Acclimate the fish as you would when bringing them home from a fish shop. The water conditions and temperature in the holding bucket will likely be a bit different than the new tank setup. I would do a slow acclimation just to be safe.

Good luck

 

[Buphy]

Indeed. If it were less of a project, like when I simply redecorated, I bagged them. Bucket seems more appropriate for a complet overhaul though.

 

[Words]

That Top Fin 60 scares me. If you've had the same substrate in your tank since startup, I'd venture to say it's holding more BB than the HOB. I'd keep a bottle of Tetra Safe Start on hand just in case, add it to be safe.