I have a cycled 36 gal glass box with 3 SAP's in it and want to change gravel from fake colored stuff Eco complete planted aquarium. Can I do this and keep the fish in or is it too messy?
If that would not be possible would there be any other solutions to changing the substrate?
As always thanks for the advice.
Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
What's wrong with fake colored stuff??? 
If it has been established for a while, there should be no issues with changing out all the substrate.
Did you mean to write "glass box" or did you really type "tank"? Now I think the joke's on me.
If it has been established for a while, there should be no issues with changing out all the substrate.
Did you mean to write "glass box" or did you really type "tank"? Now I think the joke's on me.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Jacks974
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Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
To be honest I meant tank but wrote glass box because I always see my posts get corrected. Is there a difference? I also noticed puffer turns into pooch face. I'm a newbie to the site so I don't know if my lingo is all out of whack.Pufferpunk wrote:What's wrong with fake colored stuff???
If it has been established for a while, there should be no issues with changing out all the substrate.
Did you mean to write "glass box" or did you really type "tank"? Now I think the joke's on me.
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Blaine
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
This method has worked for me in the past...
Take all of the ornaments, large rocks, and plants out of the tank,...just leaving fish. Use a straight hose (not gravel vacuum) and siphon the gravel out of the tank into a bucket,...replace water when done just like in a water change.
Thoroughly rinse new substrate prior to adding to tank. Turn off filters. Use a small plastic container and lower substrate into tank and pour on tank bottom.
Restart filters when done.
Take all of the ornaments, large rocks, and plants out of the tank,...just leaving fish. Use a straight hose (not gravel vacuum) and siphon the gravel out of the tank into a bucket,...replace water when done just like in a water change.
Thoroughly rinse new substrate prior to adding to tank. Turn off filters. Use a small plastic container and lower substrate into tank and pour on tank bottom.
Restart filters when done.
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Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32975
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
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- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
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Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
LOL, that is my yearly April fool's joke on here. I mess with the word censor. Back to normal now. 
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Blaine
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Hahaha,....joke's not on you. PufferPunk made those words change for April Fools Day. Now the joke's on her. hahaha
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Jacks974
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- Location: Traverse City, Michigan
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Got me. Haha. That's really funny cuz I've spent more time than I should thinking about glass box and pooch face.
Very good April Fools joke. Got me 100%
Very good April Fools joke. Got me 100%
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Jacks974
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:19 pm
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- Location: Traverse City, Michigan
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
It worked.
I used the Eco-Complete and the tank got super cloudy while taking the old gravel out. The new gravel worked great. The tank is practically as clear as it was before and three 20lb bags made a solid 3" substrate in the tank!
Love it so far. Much easier to stick plants in with deeper and thicker substrate.
I think the dark substrate will make it a little harder for my puffers to see the snails. Now they have to use there skills.
Thanks earlier for the advice.
I used the Eco-Complete and the tank got super cloudy while taking the old gravel out. The new gravel worked great. The tank is practically as clear as it was before and three 20lb bags made a solid 3" substrate in the tank!
Love it so far. Much easier to stick plants in with deeper and thicker substrate.
I think the dark substrate will make it a little harder for my puffers to see the snails. Now they have to use there skills.
Thanks earlier for the advice.
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Blaine
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Glad to hear it went smooth,...happy to help.