I am changing over from natural gravel to pool filter sand tomorrow. I have another tank to put my fish in temporary. Anything else I should do while changing over. This is my first time changing substrate and using sand. Any info would be helpful thanks.
Changing Substrate
- Thread starter Kyel
- Start date
I would recommend against keeping the fish in the same tank while doing the substrate change.
Move them to your temporary tank slowly or one by one; you don't want to jump the bio-load too much at once as it can be lethal to them(two a day or so, depending on your fish and temporary tank).
Expect your filter to clog somewhat with sand so keep an eye on it and rinse your filtration as needed. Do not clean off everything from the filter just yet though, just make sure your filter is running, you want to keep each and every beneficial bacteria that you can.
If you make the switch from gravel to substrate fast(in one go), make sure to check that the tank isn't cycling again; so put some hardy fish on there first when you think it's ready before you put your main stock in. Again, you have taken out a huge amount of bb(benefitial bacteria) so add in the stock back slowly.
Don't forget to acclimate, the water parameters will be different because of the sand.
I think those are the key parts, the rest should be common sense.
Feel free to ask any questions that you are uncertain with.
P.S. All of that will not happen in one day, but perhaps within a week. Unless you want to risk losing some/all of your fish.
Move them to your temporary tank slowly or one by one; you don't want to jump the bio-load too much at once as it can be lethal to them(two a day or so, depending on your fish and temporary tank).
Expect your filter to clog somewhat with sand so keep an eye on it and rinse your filtration as needed. Do not clean off everything from the filter just yet though, just make sure your filter is running, you want to keep each and every beneficial bacteria that you can.
If you make the switch from gravel to substrate fast(in one go), make sure to check that the tank isn't cycling again; so put some hardy fish on there first when you think it's ready before you put your main stock in. Again, you have taken out a huge amount of bb(benefitial bacteria) so add in the stock back slowly.
Don't forget to acclimate, the water parameters will be different because of the sand.
I think those are the key parts, the rest should be common sense.
Feel free to ask any questions that you are uncertain with.
P.S. All of that will not happen in one day, but perhaps within a week. Unless you want to risk losing some/all of your fish.
I have sand in all of my tanks so I have a little personal experience.
I'm not saying it's right, but I have done it with fish in the tank, never seemed to negatively affect the fish.
I have also moved the fish to a temporary tank, no established BB or filtration, just a heater and aeration. Never hurt the fish and the tank didn't re-cycle.
Also have done it on new tanks, and obviously did so like a normal new tank setup, cycle and all...
The biggest thing if adding to an existing water filled tank is turn off your filters for about an hour or two or place them on another established tank with similar parameters to keep the BB alive. This keeps the sand from clogging the media or munching an impeller.
Most of all, always rinse multiple times! Just because it says "pre-washed and screened" does not mean it's tank ready lol. I think they just wash the cat poop off and screen out rocks...
Good luck!
I'm not saying it's right, but I have done it with fish in the tank, never seemed to negatively affect the fish.
I have also moved the fish to a temporary tank, no established BB or filtration, just a heater and aeration. Never hurt the fish and the tank didn't re-cycle.
Also have done it on new tanks, and obviously did so like a normal new tank setup, cycle and all...
The biggest thing if adding to an existing water filled tank is turn off your filters for about an hour or two or place them on another established tank with similar parameters to keep the BB alive. This keeps the sand from clogging the media or munching an impeller.
Most of all, always rinse multiple times! Just because it says "pre-washed and screened" does not mean it's tank ready lol. I think they just wash the cat poop off and screen out rocks...
Good luck!
I'm just trying to eliminate all/most of the risks. I just don't want to hear another thread about losing fish by switching substrate, I think there's a lot and enough of that already.
The turning off for an hour does makes sense.
The turning off for an hour does makes sense.
Sounds about right. Good advice, but you have one heck of a username...
I will say that the more you wash the sand prior to putting it in the tank, the better. Put about 5-10 pounds (less is better) in a 5G bucket and rinse it THOROUGHLY, until the water runs CLEAR. If you get the sand really clean before putting it in the tank it will make a huge difference in how quickly the tank clears.
Sounds about right. Good advice, but you have one heck of a username...
Is there anyway I could change my username?
Is there anyway I could change my username?
You need to ask Li (Neoprodigy). Given the circumstances, I imagine he might be willing to help out...
You must have eaten Mexican food the day before you joined MFK, or was it Thai?
