Changing substrates.
- Thread starter Americancichlidsaredabest
- Start date
Just drain it down to about 6in of water. Scoop out the old. Drop in the new rinsed sand, refill tank and done. Did this twice myself in 125gal tanks with the fish in no issues.
Exactly, leave the ornaments in the area you are not working in. Gives them a place to hide while you do your thing.
You could just take a few scoops out per water change if you’re willing to stretch it out over a long period of time but personally I’d just do what jexnell said.
Imo much easier, healthier and less stressful to take the fish out. No matter how careful you are, if you have a decent depth of gravel you will end up with a dirty 6” of water with fish in, then you will no doubt end up cloudy when you add sand.
Much easier to run a decent filter on the tank after change over for an hour and put the fish back into semi decent water than them be in the tank for the full process.
Much easier to run a decent filter on the tank after change over for an hour and put the fish back into semi decent water than them be in the tank for the full process.
Changing your gravel out for something else is a huge change in any aquarium. I've done it in the past and never dreamt for one minute that it was a task that could be done without stressing the fish out, no matter what you leave in there for them to hide in.
I've always transferred the fish to a large covered tub. Nice and dark and without the constant noise of messing around with gravel, and the water would be proper manky too once you start, ughh, poor fish!
If the fish aren't in the tank you can really crack on and get it done quick. If you left them in there you'd be tippy toeing about so as not to stress them any further, which would just drag the job out.
It's a no brainer for me. Take them out, minimal stress, crack on with the job, put them back in. Job jobbed!
I've always transferred the fish to a large covered tub. Nice and dark and without the constant noise of messing around with gravel, and the water would be proper manky too once you start, ughh, poor fish!
If the fish aren't in the tank you can really crack on and get it done quick. If you left them in there you'd be tippy toeing about so as not to stress them any further, which would just drag the job out.
It's a no brainer for me. Take them out, minimal stress, crack on with the job, put them back in. Job jobbed!
So I decided to take the fish out and I’m glad I did. It took about 4 hours to do because the last person decided to mix sand and gravel which was a pain to take out. I got 150 lbs of sand for my 150 gal tank which is a bit much but i don’t really want to take out any now. Thank you for your help!!