Changed out my sand Friday

[sunvalley aquarist]

I set up my 240g about 15 months ago with black 3M colorquartz. Besides "Ray", I had 8 turquoise juvenile discus. In the last year I've acquired another
9 discus.
With the black sand, it was difficult to view the fish during the day, even with the lights on. The fish in the tank seem to have darkened lately as well. I saw a tank on Simply discus with white sand and decided to give it a try.
So, on Friday I made the change. Ray did not warm up to the sand at all. All he did was "wall walk" pretty much non stop. He seemed to have lost his appetite, especially for the market shrimp that I just got him to eat about 10 weeks ago.
It was as though he would spend as little time as possible on the new sand, even laying in the "clean" area from his "wall walking"
Well this morning things have changed. I came out to see him moving around on the sand like "normal". He buried himself for the first time! And his appetite has improved. I was beginning to think that I was going to have to change it again.
The new sand is a little courser than the old sand. I will keep an eye on his belly to make sure it doesn't show any signs of irritation.

Anyone have this experience with their rays?

 

[bcfd144]

I know that changing the substrate can cause your water perimeters to change. And Im sure you stressed the ray out by changing it out. Like you said, just keep on eye on him for a few days and make sure he settles in. Id also make sure you check the waters ph, nitrates, nitrites and ammonia levels for the next few days as well.

 

[sunvalley aquarist]

Thanks for the advice. I have a constant trickle running. My parameters have not changed in months. But I will watch them.

 

[johno27]

It is possible that the change just stressed him out a bit. But like you already said just keep an eye on him to make sure the sand isn't bothering him

I am putting light colored sand in my new tank for some of the same reason you didn't like the black sand. Plus I hate the black sand because it is so light it ends up in all my filters

 

[sunvalley aquarist]

Good news! Ray is almost 90%. He's burying himself and started eating his shrimp yesterday.

 

[dookie]

you might even want to try NO sand one day. I noticed rays are most active with bare bottom tanks.

 

[Mr.AzulBass]

Does a light pink on his underside mean the substrate might be irritating him. Mine is on white sand in a 75 and has sort of a pink circle an inch inside his disc. Any idea if this is normal or not?

 

[bcfd144]

some pink is normal, but it it gets to a dark pink or red, could be a sign of irritation. If its a light pink, I wouldnt worry to much, BUT keep an eye out and if it gets parker and starts turning red, then you need to do something about it.