No substrate?

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BassetsForBrown

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Dec 2, 2012
526
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Boston
I want to change my sand substrate from the current one to a lighter color. However it may well take a few days for me to get the new sand and thoroughly wash it out.

Can my fish be ok without a substrate for this time period or will the change "shock" them in some way?

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BTW I have Red Tailed Botia, an Oscar, and a few other Cichlids that all dig and sift through my sand constantly. Given their habit, would the sudden change still be safe?
 
David R said:
Why not just leave the old sand in until the new stuff is washed and ready?
Click to expand...

Whats left of my sand substrate is thoroughly caked and infiltrated by fish poop, and is very old. This is due to my own negligence honestly. I want to start fresh, without the nitrate factory that-is my substrate. So this shouldn't cause problems if its replaced within say 3 days right?

I'd like to remove the cruddy substrate, but can't get the sand I want until a few days. Breaking it into two steps also feels easier than doing the whole job at once.
 
if i were you,i would get the sand first.then start the process early in the day.put fish in buckets while you work with an airpump running to the fish buckets.i think it's less stressful to the fish to complete it in 1 day
 
your Oscar might be dramatic about it and sulk in a corner. but it should have no adverse effects on the fish to remove the substrate. As long as you do a water change at the same time to remove all the gunk that gets stirred up.
 
BassetsForBrown said:
I want to change my sand substrate from the current one to a lighter color. However it may well take a few days for me to get the new sand and thoroughly wash it out.

Can my fish be ok without a substrate for this time period or will the change "shock" them in some way?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

Fish won't care. The things that cause shock the most is like removing big rocks and such not really substrate.
 
virgil2090 said:
if i were you,i would get the sand first.then start the process early in the day.put fish in buckets while you work with an airpump running to the fish buckets.i think it's less stressful to the fish to complete it in 1 day
Click to expand...
+1. I would do it this way as well, definitely less stressful for your fish IMO.
 
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