The Puffer Forum

Ok, so i wanna change from gravel to sand. However, I've heard like 90% of bacteria live in substrate and filter? So, would it work if I added all my sand to a 10 gallon tank, put mollies in it and leave it for a week, and fill it with my current tank's water? Could thtis put the beneficial bacteria into the sand and therefore help me aviod a re-cycle? Please some advice would help.

Also, better if I got a new filter (money not issue) for this tank during cycling? And are these the mollies you all are talking about that are ok in FW, BW, and SW?

http://www.aquariumfish.net/images_01/d ... y_w270.jpg

Basically I wanna pre-cycle this sand so not to hurt my tank cycle. And suggestions?

One thing you can do is put the existing gravel in a container like tupperware (lid off of course) or even in some panty hose. Put the new sand in, lay the container/panty hose on top and leave it for a few weeks. Then you can remove it and it should be fine. Just don't change the filter and the gravel at the same time.

Skeptical- You're changing over to sand in your F8 tank?

I was considering doing this myself. Tell me how it goes and if you plant it what ones survive.

Good luck!

Thanks. I will

So, I don't even need more cycle fish like Mollies to keep ammonia n stuff in there for the bacteria to feed on? Won't they die without food?

Also, you DO recommend I put a filter on this tank?

Repeat after me :
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CYCLE FISH
ROFL

lol seriously, there is no need to cycle tanks with fish anymore. If your tank is cycled right now, do as Boxermom suggested, and take all or most of the substrate into a nylon, add your sand, and let the other substrate work while the new is being populated with bacteria. I personally think you're making a huge mistake switching to sand though, it can be a real PITA!

I didn't mean its a cycle fish. Ok, heres my setup. I got my 45 gallon I wanna change to sand. So, I got a spare 10 gallon and added all the sand I wanna put into the 45 gallon into my spare 10 gallon. So now I have a 10 gallon with sand in it. So, now, should I add water from the 45 gallon and a topless tupperware container into the 10 gallon? Do i need to add a filter and mollies to keep the bacteria in this recently empty 10 gallon alive?

I am planning, after letting the gravel and water churn for 2 weeks or so, then I'll take all gravel from the 45 gallon tank out and put all the sand thats been sitting with the new bacteria into the 45 gallon tank.

When I mentioned mollies, I only ask cuz I wanna know do they need to be there to feed the bacteria while the 10 gallon tank sits and makes the sand safe?

You're making it way more complicated than it needs to be. See my previous post, that way is much easier.

Sand is easy to keep clean, my Tanganyika tank has a natural coral sand substrate and it gives me no trouble. Just get yourself one of those gravel - hoover things, stick some of the white fluffy filter media in the intake so it doesn't suck up the sand and get hoovering!

Are you using aragonite sand?

No, really fine sand, like minute white stuff. What kinda white stuff? Like, I know about what you're talking about, but do I need to put like cotton in it or what? Maybe a link to show a good media to prevent clogging?

Try pool filter sand. I havnt had a problem with it yet and its east to get.

Well, I've got the sand I want already, its Marine tank sand. I just need to know what kinda filter media I need to stop cloggage. Its really really fine sand.

If it is 'sugar sand", IMHO & IME that is one of the most difficult substrates to maintain. Keep it very thin and protect all your filters with fine sponges on the intakes (which will need frequent rinsing).

Where can I get these sponges? Like this stuff? The offwhite sponges at the top?

http://www.thehiddenreef.com/saltwater_ ... sponge.htm

Whatever covers the intakes, really.