Adding substrate

[r3d]

I am going to add 60lbs of pool filter sand to my bare bottom 60 gallon tank. my question is should i remove my fish when i do this?
i would also appreciate any info on how to make my water less cloudy when i do this or how to make it clear quicker
thank you

 

[Sab_Fan]

if it were me, I'd do at least two things:

1) remove the fish first
2) remove as much of the water as I could

when I did this with my 90G, I took the fish out and all of the water; I was able to store about 50G of water in spare tanks or 5G water bottles. after I put the new substrate in, I filled the tank back up with the 50G of water on hand, and then added another 40G of new water, which is like doing a 45% water change

of course, if you can't store the water, then another approach is to at least remove the fish, and then add the new substrate slooooowly so as to minimize disturbance

 

[jakezori]

First thing is first... WASH THE SUBSRATE!

Get a couple of 5 gallon buckets and fill them half way with the substrate, stick a hose in them and wash the substrate with your hands letting the dirsty water overflow. This should reduce your "cloudy water" by at least 80%. As for the fish question. If you can, remove the fish and then put the substrate in. Do large water changes for the next couple of days afterward.

 

[devder1]

wash the **** outta it and then just dump it in add water clarifier if the cloudiness really bothers you, it will naturally be gone in 24 hours i wouldnt worry about the fish

 

[Freshwater Tim]

Wash the crap outta it....use a large plastic bowl and lay the sand into the bottom of the tank...fish will be fine.

 

[goldies88]

Might want to keep an eye on the intake of your filter. Sand get suck in to filter first few hours . I would per-filter the intake too.

 

[sick_lid]

Might want to keep an eye on the intake of your filter. Sand get suck in to filter first few hours . I would per-filter the intake too.

Just turn your filter off till the majority of it settles, your fish will be fine.