Changing Gravel

[Paperface]

Hi,

We've had our tank for 2 years now and it has the same gravel in it that we started with and is beginning to get a bit grotty.

What is the best process to be able to change the gravel, do we need a spare tank to keep the fish in, or could we use a bowl. Would the change upset the fish?

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers,

David

 

[WILDER]

Yes you willl need to move the fish while you change it, do you have one of those plastic toy boxes you can put them in with the heater and filter running, you will lose some beneifical bacteria though with changing the gravel what are your present water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

 

[Durbkat]

What size tank is it and what and how many fish are in the tank? I had a topic about this a few days ago in the tropical chit chat section, here it is http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=ST...=0#entry1063353

 

[Paperface]

What size tank is it and what and how many fish are in the tank? I had a topic about this a few days ago in the tropical chit chat section, here it is http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=ST...=0#entry1063353

There's only 3 fish in quite a small tank at the moment, but we've recently changed the filter, which seemed to stress them out a bit, so may wait for a bit before doing this.

The idea of putting the old gravel in a pair of tights sounds like a good idea.

Thanks for all your advice.

Dave

Yes you willl need to move the fish while you change it, do you have one of those plastic toy boxes you can put them in with the heater and filter running, you will lose some beneifical bacteria though with changing the gravel what are your present water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

Not checked these recently, probably should do, having just changed the filter.

 

[Durbkat]

What kind of fish are they and what size tank is it? Did you put the filter cartridge from the old filter into the new one, if not I wouldn't change anything because the tank is re cycling it self.

 

[Paperface]

What kind of fish are they and what size tank is it? Did you put the filter cartridge from the old filter into the new one, if not I wouldn't change anything because the tank is re cycling it self.

2 Mollies and a Cory, I think.

We had to change the whole filter, pump and all as the other one wasn't working very well, so I guess we'd better wait a while before changing the filter too

 

[Durbkat]

What size tank is it?