changing from gravel to sand

[kpjenk21]

I'm thinking about changing from gravel to a sand bottom in my 30 gal. tank that has my GSP. What's the best way to go about doing that? also, what's the best way to do cleanings with sand? right now i just use a gravel vac. thanks

[bertie 83]

I did a substrate change not that long ago, I did it section at a time

[suvattii2012]

Did You leave the fish in while you did it bertie? When my puffer is better i wanted to take the sand and the bits of gravel out and just use some fresh sand.

[Pufferpunk]

Are you using aragonite sand?

[bertie 83]

Yes did it with the fish in, changed about 1/4 at a time with a weeks gap between. I scooped the gravel and my wife vacuumed any waterborne detritus. Was easy till we got to his fav corner, that was not quite as thorough, we were getting chomped at splashed and spat at. Not fun

[Pufferpunk]

I just scoop the gravel up with a net & put the new substrate in.

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

+1 But left alittle bit of gravel mixed in the sand.

[kcartwright856]

When I did the switch, I removed my fish and took the gravel out with a net, as PP did. I vacuumed the gravel pretty well as I drained the tank before scooping.

For the first scoop of gravel out of the tank, I skimmed across the top to get the most beneficial bacteria to place into a nylon stocking so that I could put some back into the tank temporarily.

Then I placed rinsed sand where I needed it, placed a bowl in the sand and poured water into the bowl so that it wouldn't disturb and kick up the sand.

Everything worked out great!

[suvattii2012]

would you leave the filter on while your putting more sand in?

[kcartwright856]

would you leave the filter on while your putting more sand in?

Not unless you hate your impeller.

[bertie 83]

Raise the inlet and put sand in carefully you don't want your filter off for long.

[kcartwright856]

This may not work with all sands, but I use a method that has zero "kick-up" when placing pool filter sand into a tank already filled with water.

Basically, you get a soda bottle (I used a 2 liter, but I think something smaller would work just as well.) and fill it with your sand. Slowly lower it into the tank vertically and allow the bottle to fill with water. Once filled, flip it over. The sand will pour out of the bottle, and any debris/cloudiness left over from rinsing is completely contained inside of the bottle.

Let all or most of the sand drop out and quickly turn the bottle back upright and take it out. Dump the cloudy water, rinse and repeat.

Works every time.

[suvattii2012]

thanks

[kpjenk21]

so today i started changing from gravel to Aragonite sand bottom, and this is what i have changed so far. how long should i wait until i change the next section, and how how much more can change at that time? 30 gal. tank BTW

[bertie 83]

It really depends on how established the tank is. Some change all at once, I prefer to do it 1/4 at a time with a weeks gap, there may be lots of good bacteria in the gravel and I did not wish to remove it all at once, I was basically paranoid