Sounds good. I really am struggling with moving or not moving my fish. Just as stressful IMO to move them as it is to have that activity going on while they are there...Moving half one day and half another day seems pretty good idea. How did this affect them and for how long? Love hearing the positives u have experienced since the change!! Its what I'm looking for as well. I also plan to build my own two canister filters and installing them when I make the change. Right now I have a huge under gravel system using two power heads. Also a HOB Emperor 200.
Want to change my pea gravel to pool filter sand?
- Thread starter TeeCeeTx
- Start date
You might consider installing the two canister filters first, let them run for a week or two to build up a bio load, and then make the change. You are going to be losing a great deal of bio when you remove the gravel AND undergravel filter.
Having a double bio load established before you switch is far better than removing 1/2+ of your current load by doing the switch, since the latter has the potential to give you the type of ammonia/nitrite spikes that water changes can only partially remedy.
Another indicator of how much bio you need to add, or can safely remove, is your current ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels before water changes. If any of them are greater than zero, removing the gravel/undergravel filter poses a greater risk.
Duh, I did say African and not sure why I thought that..I feel so dumb, thanks for correcting me. As far as the substrate change, I think I will take advice from all of you. I will build the canisters this weekend. Install them and let them run a few weeks, while monitoring my ph levels, ammonia/nitrate/nitrite levels and then deciding on how, when to make the change at that point. Thanks so much. I am learning so much more. Love this stuff..
Lots of good advice here. I changed my 180 over from gravel to sand a few years ago. I removed all of the decorations from the tank and started the gravel removal without removing any water, as I also had U/G running in the tank and there was certainly a bunch of crud in the gravel and under the plate. I left the water in so that I could get as much of the muck out as I could while doing a water change. I then removed all of the gravel and did a large (80% +/-) water change, getting most of the crud out. I then added the sand and filled the tank back up. All of this was done with the fish in the tank.
Certainly add your canisters for a few weeks before doing this. You should be able to build up a sufficient bio colony to handle the load.
Certainly add your canisters for a few weeks before doing this. You should be able to build up a sufficient bio colony to handle the load.
Thanks jonclark96. I think I have FINALLY decided to do what you did. Make sense. I just don't feel good about moving my fish, because I don't have room or another tank to keep fish in while I make the changes. So, I will build the two canisters this weekend. Set em up and run them for two weeks. Checking ph, ammonia levels, etc. When this has gotten going good, then I will begin to remove gravel(not water) and my big rocks/caves until I get most of it all out. Then do a BIG water change as I remove the under gravel plates (and that muck underneath) This time (two weeks) will give me a chance to work on my "other" project of building a new stand, that will be able to house my sump that I want to put in. (Store bought stand doors too narrow to place sump underneath) I was wondering would this be a good time to also change stands and place the sump in as well? My tank will be the lightest in weight(during the 80% water change) it has been in a year or so! Would changing the stand, putting in the sand and the sump all in one whop be too much or good timing? PLEASE feel free to jump in folks and help me . My "LOVE" for this stuff OFTEN gets in the way of my "MAKING GOOD SENSE"!! So, give me your thoughts ASAP, because I'm headed to the store this weekend (tonight and in the morning) to begin my work. Wanna know your thoughts before I spend $$. I'm retired educator, who has more time than $$!!..LOL Waiting on replies, and be honest, I don't take it personal. Thanks
