gravel to sand

[RedtailBarracuda]

What would be the fastest way to change the gravel in a tank to sand?
plus, would it be possible to change the substrate with fish in the tank?

thanks

 

[jredner]

i was just wondering the same thing

 

[jredner]

this page has a little info:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106268&highlight=gravel+sand

sounds like it's possible to leave the fish in while you do the change but it will stress them out.

 

[mike dunagan]

use a net

 

[jredner]

Is it a good idea to change it all at once (kill too much bacteria)?

Do you need to take the fish out?

 

[RedtailBarracuda]

thanks
im wondering too if you have to take the fish out. I don't have a place to put them

 

[joey02]

scoop all the gravel out with a large fish net with fine holes. after all the gravel is out, make sure the sand is very clean befor you put it in to reduce all the dust from floating around. turn the filters off. you could just pour it in very slowly all on one end and then smooth it out when finished. or you could put small amounts of sand in a plastic container(i use a juice jug)and bring the sand down into the bottom of the tank inside the jug and piur it out from there. that is the best way to do it with out sand making a mess. but also takes the longest. wich ever you do, just do it all on one end of the tank so you dont stress the fish out too much by dumping it every where.

 

[jredner]

I really like that milk jug idea. I'll have to give it a try. Would you change out the entire substrate at one time or maybe do half the tank one day and the other half the next day?

 

[joey02]

ive done it all at once, just to get it done. If your filter is completly cycled, then you should be fine. just dont clean anything else in the tank for a few days, including the filter. although the gravel holds a fair amout of BB, im sure if you did an extra water change here and there until every thing is back to normal, you should be fine.