Gravel To Sand?

[adam98150]

My fish would benefit more from having sand rather then gravel. So how would i go about changing it? Take all the water out or just 70%. Also where could i put the fish when i do the change?

 

[kimmers318]

I don't know if it is the "right" way or not, but I did it by removing 1/2 the water and the gravel all at once, and slowly adding the sand a cupful at a time without removing the fish. If the sand is rinsed well it settles right away. There was one small mistake though, and that is that I apparently took too long and although I left some gravel in a mesh bag in the tank water I removed, I still went thru a mini-cycle. If I did it again I would 1) leave the gravel bag in the tank and work around it, or 2) plop it into another tank to save from possibly losing bacteria. The mini-cycle caused me to have to do daily water checks and small water changes, but we got thru it, and the fish love the sand bottom.

 

[timmystood]

Basically... what to do is this:

- Remove tank water into a bucket (until full) and place filter/heater into bucket and switch on
- Put all fish in the bucket complete with filter/heater
- Remove remaining tank water
- Tank oppurtunity to clean ornaments/glass etc.
- Remove all gravel
- Rinse sand until water runs clear
- Place sand in tank and re-arrange decorations as required
- Fill tank half-way with new water
- Catch fish and place them back in tank
- Replace filter/heater back into tank
- Fill the rest of the tank with new water
- Dispose of bucket water and gravel

*Please make sure you have an established filter before switching from gravel to sand!

 

[Boxermom]

I just scoop the gravel out with a large fish net (avoiding any fish), and replace it with sand using a plastic disposable cup, gently pouring it out. Fish didn't appear to be very stressed and it was a whole lot less work and mess.