Changing From Gravel To Sand..... :)

[MrsM]

Looks awesome. Some difference isn't it? At least you don't ever have to do it again

i must admit im glad ive done it will look better with a few more plants...

Its important to check your water paremeters just in case of any spikes like when i did my change and put the fish in a bucket i noticed 4-5 guppy fry and noticed that my fry gave birth for the first time and i might say spawning may mostly take place when lower in temperature (which the bucket water was colder) but the problem was that my 6 month old male guppy was trying to breed with the 6 month old female (sister) so there could be inbreeding

ive tested and no ammonoa or nitrite so far..ill test again tomorrow morning...as for the guppy..not keeping any of the fry, what dont get eaten will be shiped to LFS and my sis wants a few...

 

[garyspence84]

Will look much better with some more plants in to fill it out a we bit.

I'm so glad I done mine, wish I done it years ago! So much better looking now.

You done not too bad, an hour and a half? Seems like longer when your doing it though

Look forward to see updates on the tank

 

[MrsM]

not sure what plants to get, only want some low tech ones....

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Anubias, java fern, amazon swords, most cryptocorynes should all do nicely. I have them in a low tech, no ferts, low light set-up. They are doing fantastically.

 

[Gilli]

Need some advise from those of you in the know about sand substrate please....

So I think ive pretty much made up my mind to change to sand, but im going to go for black or dark coloured as I dont want to see too much poop (as explained have large community tank plus large BN plec!).

Its pretty expensive so do you think I could get away with a 25kg bag for a tank of 250L ? Its a bow front tank measuring
4 foot long and width 1ft 3 inches. Also there seems to be different sorts and grades of sand , and obviously im avoiding any that say marine, so which is the best to go for and what are the benefits please?

 

[DrSlackBladder]

8kg gave me about an inch covering in my 100 litre bow front, so up-scaling that by x2.5 gives about 20kg required for 250 litre with an inch depth. So you should be ok with 25kg, although of course our height vs length/depth ratios may be slightly different.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

What other fish do you have besides the BN pleco?

 

[zain611]

Try the bottle method out, you wont need to brake your back cleaning it in a bucket

 

[garyspence84]

Need some advise from those of you in the know about sand substrate please....

So I think ive pretty much made up my mind to change to sand, but im going to go for black or dark coloured as I dont want to see too much poop (as explained have large community tank plus large BN plec!).

Its pretty expensive so do you think I could get away with a 25kg bag for a tank of 250L ? Its a bow front tank measuring
4 foot long and width 1ft 3 inches. Also there seems to be different sorts and grades of sand , and obviously im avoiding any that say marine, so which is the best to go for and what are the benefits please?

I used 30kg in my 4foot 240ltr bowed front tank and its more than enough. I might take some out to be honest so I think 25kg will be perfect

 

[bmonki]

just to say, for anyone who doesnt get or trust the bottle method mentioned above - dont be put off by having to use buckets - i have a 4' tank and did the bucket method while 4 months pregnant and sorting out my two toddlers - it's not too difficult to dissuade you from doing the switch

 

[comocrayfish5]

^^ how/ what does the bottle method do? i watched the video and i still dont get it

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It allows the heavy stuff (sand) to fall out the bottom... while the lighter stuff (dust) is pushed up by the water entering the bottle and keeps the mess from spreading to the tank. It allows the sand to fall out without making a cloudy mess in the tank.

 

[PlumbersMerchant]

Probably a daft question but i use the syphon method and clean my gravel with that, would it pick up sand or just move it about a bit like it does with the gravel ?

Secondly can frogs like with sand ? i have got 2 and my kids love them so wouldnt want anything to happen to them

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The syphon can pick up the sand, Usually just swish the syphon around slightly above the sand and the lighter detritus will get sucked up and the sand will stay put.

Can't help you with the frog question.

 

[comocrayfish5]

i have and african dwarf frog that was fine with sand