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Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:53 pm
by Jacks974
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.
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:55 pm
by Pufferpunk
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.
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:58 pm
by Jacks974
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.
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.
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:00 pm
by Blaine
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.
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:01 pm
by Pufferpunk
LOL, that is my yearly April fool's joke on here. I mess with the word censor. Back to normal now.
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:02 pm
by Blaine
Hahaha,....joke's not on you. PufferPunk made those words change for April Fools Day. Now the joke's on her. hahaha
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:06 pm
by Jacks974
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%
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:36 pm
by Jacks974
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.
Re: Change substrate in a cycled and running tank?
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:55 pm
by Blaine
Glad to hear it went smooth,...happy to help.