New method for switching from gravel to sand. Thoughts?

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Steveo McNello

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2010
2,009
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SW Burbs of Chicago
I think I'm switching the pea gravel in my 125 to pool filter sand. I have heard plenty of good reviews about it. And since I now have monsters I want to be able to spot clean waste every day and it's easier to see on sand.

How about this... I have a 5-6 foot section of 1/2" braided pvc tubing. The siphon this creates picks up my gravel. I'm going to run the other end into a bucket through a filter sock. The gravel will land in the sock and the water will be in the bucket which I can just dump back into the tank. So no need to turn anything off because the water level won't move. Once I have the gravel out, I can see if I really like bare bottom. But when it comes time to add sand I'll turn the filter off for bring bucket fulls of it down to the bottom and slowly dump. After a thorough washing of course.

How does my gravel removal method sound?
 
sounds time consuming and awkward unless you have something that will hold the filter sock. I usually just scoop it up with a plastic disposable cup, they'll flatten out when the gravel gets low. The gravel also displaces most of the water so you don't have to put it back in the tank. The pfs at American sales is clean enough not to be rinsed.
 
bbortko said:
sounds time consuming and awkward unless you have something that will hold the filter sock. I usually just scoop it up with a plastic disposable cup, they'll flatten out when the gravel gets low. The gravel also displaces most of the water so you don't have to put it back in the tank. The pfs at American sales is clean enough not to be rinsed.
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wtf i called american sale and they said they didn't have any lol. I got some at FIM instead. I figured it'd be the best way to go without draining my tank and constantly having to dry my arms off going in and out of the tank.
 
I just put a bunch of towels down and accept I'm gonna make a mess and deal with it when I'm done. If you have something to put the bucket on it might not be that bad, just seems awkward to hold the sock on the hose and work the bottom of the tank at the same time. It doesn't matter how clean the tank is, the water you remove is gonna be nasty and not worth putting back into the tank.
 
bbortko said:
I just put a bunch of towels down and accept I'm gonna make a mess and deal with it when I'm done. If you have something to put the bucket on it might not be that bad, just seems awkward to hold the sock on the hose and work the bottom of the tank at the same time. It doesn't matter how clean the tank is, the water you remove is gonna be nasty and not worth putting back into the tank.
Click to expand...

My brother was going to hold the hose and the filter sock is rigged to stay on the bucket. I guess all I can do is try.
 
This works for me

Fish%20Net.jpg
 
I just use cheap net as well. I have nice expensive nets with a stainless handle that won't flew I use for bigger fish, so I normally keep a cheapo on hand just for this purpose.

You'll be there all day siphoning out gravel.... It will take at least a minute to siphon out what one scoop with the net will take out.
 
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