Switching to Sand - re-Cycle potential?

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95Harley

95Harley

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 20, 2006
588
2
48
Annapolis, MD
I'm taking this Opt of my Aro passing and selling my RCK to redo my 180g tank. I'm going to go to white Pool Sand mixed with Black Tahatian Moon Sand.

What's the thoughts on pulling 50% of water out. Putting in "cleaned" sand, and once settled firing my FX3's back up and running them for a few days to seed the tank. Then adding 50-60gallons of my old water back in and fish.

Only 2 fish, but one is a Priced Widebar.

Think it will totally re-cycle or do a minor cycle?

What's my chances of success?
 
So pulling 50-60g to set aside, emptying the rest of water/substrate, then putting new sand/water, firing the filters up.. and then put in old water/fish in?

I would do it.. but that's just me.. Do you have a place to keep the fish for a few days while your tank "seeds"?
 
I would do it.. but that's just me.. Do you have a place to keep the fish for a few days while your tank "seeds"?[/QUOTE]

Yep...In the 50-60g...LOL

Actually I'm thinking of not emptying the filters and just shutting them off while I put the sand back in they turning them back on.

1 of the fish is a Fl Gar so he can take a cycle if it happens but if I were to loose my 12" Widebar do to stupidity I'd be pissed.
 
Think it will totally re-cycle or do a minor cycle?

What's my chances of success?
Click to expand...

The water makes pretty much zero difference, changing the substrate will have a small effect as some bacteria live on it, but the filters are the most important part.

Are they running in a tank with some bioload at the moment? If they are, then they are still cycled at some level and will support a certain level of bioload. If they have been off for more than a few hours, or running in an empty tank for a few days, then the bacteria will be dieing off and you will need to re-cycle them.

Bottom line - it's the filters you need to cycle, not the tank, gravel, water etc. You can change all those things at will and the effect will be small, but the filters you HAVE to take care of.

Cheers

Ian
 
Canister filters are up and running for a yr now with a nice sized Bio-load. I think I will pull the gravel out first and leave the filters running.

Now would you pull the fish first or just wash the sand THROUGHLY and add it back slowly to not cloud water. Was thinking of pulling fish, but may try to leave them in place.
 
You'll need to keep some sort of a bioload on your filters to keep the bacteria fed and alive... as in, keep your filters hooked up to a tank with fish in it.
 
i recently did the same thing i just netted out the rock and slowly added sand.I didnt remove the fish or the water.I shut down the filter for the changeover,about an hour,maybe less.The tank is fine now
 
niblit;1404757; said:
i recently did the same thing i just netted out the rock and slowly added sand.I didnt remove the fish or the water.I shut down the filter for the changeover,about an hour,maybe less.The tank is fine now
Click to expand...

I did the same thing a while back, except with rocks (got tired of the color). Didn't hurt the fish or bio filter at all.
 
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