Will I lose my cycle?

[DinosaurMeag]

Hi all!

I am planning to convert my substrate from gravel to pool filter sand. It's a 30 gallon tank, and my filter is an AC70.

When I take the gravel out, and replace it with a new substrate, will I lose my cycle? Or should I have enough bacteria built up in my filter to compensate?

Any other suggestions etc are appreciated.

 

[N.C.]

you should be fine......when they say cycle a tank they really mean cycle the filter

 

[puffcrusader696]

you shouldnt... at least with my experience the filter should compensate. although you might wanna add some supplement bacteria just to help a bit. GL

 

[andyjs]

The substrate bacteria does little compared to the bacteria in the filter unless you're running a UGF, so you'll be fine. I just did the same in my 75 about 3 weeks ago.

 

[dr_sudz]

There is always the small possiblity you may get a bacterial bloom in the next few days but other then that it should be fine. The filter should be large enough to handle the loss of the substrate bacteria.

 

[gthiele]

Thats such a pain in the as. its not even funny, sand is gonna be all in those filters and you gott clean all the sand before it goes in man uhhh

 

[andyjs]

Thats such a pain in the as. its not even funny, sand is gonna be all in those filters and you gott clean all the sand before it goes in man uhhh

I had no problems. Just turn off the filters when the sand is added/messed with. Pool filter sand is actually very clean. Normally, I rinse substrates a lot, but with the filter sand, it went from bag to tank and didn't cloud the water at all

 

[MommyJulia]

It should be fine.