Changing substrate in an established tank

msdolittle · 04-27-2006, 07:40 PM

So....when I got this tank I stupidly put blue gravel in it. I have it looking pretty natural besides this. I'd like to make it look completely natural. How the heck do I change the gravel NOW?? All the fishies in there (and lots of bottom feeders) will be too stressed, no?

bpswim90 · 04-27-2006, 08:02 PM

I think what you're supposed to do is change it at small bits at a time, for example change 1/4th of it one week, 1/4 the next week, and so on. This is to not take away all of the bacteria established in the gravel at once, possibly causing a mini-cycle. Your fish should be okay as long as you use clean substrate and replace it gradually. Also make sure the new substrate will not change your pH drastically (it should say on the bag), as this would be a major stress factor for the fish.

**fish_doc** · 04-27-2006, 08:19 PM

You have a couple options. If you have external filtration that will hold most of the benefical bacteria during the change. You can put some of the new gravel in a small net and put the net in the tank for a week before the gravel change. This will give the bacteria time to establish in the new gravel. Then you can change it all out while keeping some of the good bacteria in the gravel and alot more in the external filter.

msdolittle · 04-27-2006, 08:29 PM

Great!!! I do have an external filter so...

Okay, so I think I'll get started on this soon. Doesn't sound too hard!

emc7 · 04-27-2006, 11:14 PM

Dont let it mix, or you'll alway have blue flecks in your gravel. Just take your water level down by 1/3 and scrape it out with a cut off coffee can lid. Rinse the new gravel or your tank will be cloudy for awhile. F

msdolittle · 04-28-2006, 10:04 PM

And...........no worries about the fish being stressed out?

emc7 · 04-29-2006, 11:05 AM

Yeah, they'll be kind of stressed for a day or two, same as if you stuck a net in. But unless they'll super delicate they'll bounce right back and the water change will help.

msdolittle · 04-29-2006, 11:06 AM

Cool. Thank you.

jwddboy · 04-29-2006, 03:05 PM

Yup the external filter should hold a lot of your bacteria but so will your gravel. You may have to do a small cycle just dont rush at it thats all.

Ringo · 04-30-2006, 07:49 PM

thanks guys i stupidly put orange substrate in the tank ORANGE SUBSTRATE, i think i've lost my mind.....again

msdolittle · 04-30-2006, 08:02 PM

Haha......so what is worse, orange or bright blue? Well, maybe its more navy.....but how much navy blue gravel do you see in streams and lakes??

msdolittle · 04-30-2006, 08:04 PM

I think I'll do the fishdoc idea.......so I can make sure NOT to mess up the biofilter. However, a twist........what if I netted my OLD gravel and left it in there while the NEW gravel developed its bacteria?

04-27-2006, 07:40 PM	#1
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	Changing substrate in an established tank So....when I got this tank I stupidly put blue gravel in it. I have it looking pretty natural besides this. I'd like to make it look completely natural. How the heck do I change the gravel NOW?? All the fishies in there (and lots of bottom feeders) will be too stressed, no? __________________ ~Angela~

04-27-2006, 08:02 PM	#2
bpswim90 hola Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Missouri Age: 17 Posts: 101	I think what you're supposed to do is change it at small bits at a time, for example change 1/4th of it one week, 1/4 the next week, and so on. This is to not take away all of the bacteria established in the gravel at once, possibly causing a mini-cycle. Your fish should be okay as long as you use clean substrate and replace it gradually. Also make sure the new substrate will not change your pH drastically (it should say on the bag), as this would be a major stress factor for the fish. __________________ My Ten Gallon Journal 10 Gallon: 7 Glowlight Tetras Amazon sword, Anacharis, Java Fern, Wisteria, & other stuff ... 36w CF lighting (11 hours daily) and ghetto CO2 5 Gallon QT: Empty + needs to be cleaned

04-27-2006, 08:19 PM	#3
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,828	You have a couple options. If you have external filtration that will hold most of the benefical bacteria during the change. You can put some of the new gravel in a small net and put the net in the tank for a week before the gravel change. This will give the bacteria time to establish in the new gravel. Then you can change it all out while keeping some of the good bacteria in the gravel and alot more in the external filter. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

04-27-2006, 08:29 PM	#4
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	Great!!! I do have an external filter so... Okay, so I think I'll get started on this soon. Doesn't sound too hard! __________________ ~Angela~

04-28-2006, 10:04 PM	#6
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	And...........no worries about the fish being stressed out? __________________ ~Angela~

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04-27-2006, 11:14 PM	#5
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 3,239	Dont let it mix, or you'll alway have blue flecks in your gravel. Just take your water level down by 1/3 and scrape it out with a cut off coffee can lid. Rinse the new gravel or your tank will be cloudy for awhile. F

04-29-2006, 11:05 AM	#7
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 3,239	Yeah, they'll be kind of stressed for a day or two, same as if you stuck a net in. But unless they'll super delicate they'll bounce right back and the water change will help.

04-29-2006, 11:06 AM	#8
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	Cool. Thank you. __________________ ~Angela~

04-29-2006, 03:05 PM	#9
jwddboy Fishy Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 18	Yup the external filter should hold a lot of your bacteria but so will your gravel. You may have to do a small cycle just dont rush at it thats all.

04-30-2006, 07:49 PM	#10
Ringo I'm just a Twig Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The Sticks Age: 16 Posts: 965	thanks guys i stupidly put orange substrate in the tank ORANGE SUBSTRATE, i think i've lost my mind.....again

04-30-2006, 08:02 PM	#11
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	Haha......so what is worse, orange or bright blue? Well, maybe its more navy.....but how much navy blue gravel do you see in streams and lakes?? __________________ ~Angela~

04-30-2006, 08:04 PM	#12
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	I think I'll do the fishdoc idea.......so I can make sure NOT to mess up the biofilter. However, a twist........what if I netted my OLD gravel and left it in there while the NEW gravel developed its bacteria? __________________ ~Angela~

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