How can I Remove Gravel?
- Thread starter BenSow
- Start date
First i laid out towels all around the tank to keep the floor clean/dry.
I shut off all my pumps/heaters.
Drained the water to about half and used the water to fill two rubbermaids.
Then i started taking all the driftwood and rocks out which i put into plastic bags.
Took one heater and placed it into one of the rubbermaids.
Drained the tank down to 1/4.
Removed plants and placed them in rubbermaid.
Caught the fish and placed them into the heated rubbermaid and put the lid on, also put a digital thermometer in to periodically check the temp.
Used my largest net to scoop as much gravel as i could each time, supporting the bottom of the net with my hand to prevent it breaking.
Dumped the net into doubled up kitchen garbage bags on the floor right next to me.
I managed to get 98% of it out. After that i put the new sand it, driftwood back in, plants back in, refilled with water, put the water from the rubbermaids back in, turned everything back on and let the filters deal with the cloudyness for an hour. Then i put the fish back in!
Took about 2 and a half hours and that was on my 75 gallon.
I shut off all my pumps/heaters.
Drained the water to about half and used the water to fill two rubbermaids.
Then i started taking all the driftwood and rocks out which i put into plastic bags.
Took one heater and placed it into one of the rubbermaids.
Drained the tank down to 1/4.
Removed plants and placed them in rubbermaid.
Caught the fish and placed them into the heated rubbermaid and put the lid on, also put a digital thermometer in to periodically check the temp.
Used my largest net to scoop as much gravel as i could each time, supporting the bottom of the net with my hand to prevent it breaking.
Dumped the net into doubled up kitchen garbage bags on the floor right next to me.
I managed to get 98% of it out. After that i put the new sand it, driftwood back in, plants back in, refilled with water, put the water from the rubbermaids back in, turned everything back on and let the filters deal with the cloudyness for an hour. Then i put the fish back in!
Took about 2 and a half hours and that was on my 75 gallon.
For my bigger tanks that I use to have, I used a plastic dust pan with the rubber blade on its edge, cut work in half.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions... I found out that removing gravel stresses my fish alot... especially my aro...
I removed gravel from my 55 gallon using my largest fish net (10"). I took 25% out every week for a month. However, I did experience an ammonia spike. I continued to do 2 - 20% w/c a week and things got under control quickly. Having 4 biowheels running on the tank helped.
I posted a thread earlier about this. my best way i thought of without stirring up the gravel . is use a long 2-3 inch siphon hose. it sucks out ALLLL the gravel and a bunch of water. so just have a big rubbermaid ready. whats good about this is.. is you do a water change at the same time
