NEED some help concerning fish safety

[cnel124]

I currently have a bare bottom tank but I'm going to add sand because my Pearl Stingray is showing odd behavior after my last substrate was removed. I have two questions concerning the safety of my fish. I currently have two Tropical Gars and two Stingrays and they are fairly small, all under 7 inches.

1) Can I keep all my fish in the tank while adding a new substrate? I know I need to remove the gars but what about the rays?

2) My Pearl Stingray ONLY moves up and down the side of the glass (vertical glass) all day, ONLY after I removed the substrate. I'm happy to add substrate but is the lack of it the cause of his weird behavior? He used to enjoy the old substrate even though it was unsafe and he never acted in this way previously, will he most likely stop if I add new substrate (I will be adding sand)?

 

[cnel124]

Anyone?

 

[joe jaskot]

If you use the method shown in the video, there is no need to remove the fish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U73wRwTQ4HM

 

[Garshark]

I would take the fish out

 

[Fat Homer]

Just make sure if its a fine sand substrate you rinse it really well first


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[cnel124]

Thanks everyone, I think its most likely a good idea to remove the at least the gars until the sand settles, but I will most likely remove the stingrays to.

 

[Gill Blue]

if the substrate is well rinsed then there's no difference between adding the substrate and the rays digging around in it. same type of exposure. just don't bury them in it.

 

[ascarbo27]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buMZbrbhJVs

 

[Mr.Manaconda]

+1 ^^^^^ what ascarbo27 posted.

Just do it the way Joey shows you in his vid.