Gravel removal and Replacement

[Jason2028]

Question to All Aquarium Guru's. . . . .

What would be the best and less sressful way to remove all the old grave from my tank 150 LBS and replace with Color Quartz ???

Is it possible to keep the fish in the tank during this process ???

Will I have to do a 50 or 100% water change ???

 

[duke33]

I'd lower the water level 1/3 and start scooping. They'll be fine. then fill, clean filters..etc.

 

[bigspizz]

Use your net. Get a bigger one if the little green ones are all you have. It took me 2 minutes to get all the gravel out of my 80 gallon the other day. I would never add gravel with fish in the tank for many reasons. Make sure you rinse any substrate forEVER and it will still be dusty in the tank. Add the fish back in an hour or so when things have settled down a bit. If you have fish that can take it. I would add some salt to soothe the gills. The particles in the water irritates them

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

If you use a python let the outtake suck up your gravel and into where ever you want it.

 

[wataugachicken]

^ i agree. get a pile of it in the python and then let it drop into a net or plastic container. that way it is being cleaned as you take it out and there will be a minimum amount of debris that gets into the water.

 

[aquatic_wonders]

I use a big net and slowly move not to disturb to much the dirt in the gravel...the wish was inside the tank.

 

[Axle]

i used a cheap plastic dust pan. new one not used for anything else

 

[Ric Foster]

i used a cheap plastic dust pan. new one not used for anything else

And I thought I was the only one using a dustpan. They work great.

 

[ercnan]

Third on the dustpan option.
I've also used kids plastic "shovels" that come with sandbox toys.
They also work just as well on spreading out/leveling the new stuff.

 

[mike dunagan]

I tried the phython to remove play sand, all it did was get it blocked up... I remove gravel with a net and time...