Gravel To Sand

[damizza]

Hi All I am new to this site, I thought I could get some good advice and answers here. I have had my fish tank set up for two months now, I haven't put any fish in it as of yet. Basically I was wondering if it is safe to take the gravel out and change it over to sand for fresh water tropical fish. If any one has any advice or faqs I should know this would be most helpful before I see about putting sand in the tank. Thanks a bunch.

 

[noop]

you say your tank is set-up, but has no fish in it. is it cycled? are you adding ammonia to keep it cycled?

if you've not cycled it yet, then changing to sand is easy. just thoroughly wash your sand (i put it in a pillow case and sloshed it under the bath tap for 15 minutes), take the gravel out and pour the sand in

if you have cycled it already, then don't replace the gravel all at once. you need to give the bacteria time to move over to the new substrate. do it a bit at a time

i went from gravel to half-gravel/half-sand with all my fish in situ and had no probs

 

[modernhamlet]

What kind/brand/model of filter do you have?

 

[damizza]

OH thanks so much for replying. NO I have not cycled it yet, I have just had water and the filter and heater going for 2 months. I don't actually know about cycling. So if I put sand in before cycling it will not effect freshwater tropical fish by having sand and not water, when I do buy fish?

 

[heresmike]

You can exchange the gravel for sand before cycling, but I'm not sure what you mean by "So if I put sand in before cycling it will not effect freshwater tropical fish by having sand and not water"

When you put fish in depends on whether you do a fishy or fishless cycle.

In this thread, you will find info about cycling:

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...showtopic=10099


Good luck!

 

[damizza]

Thanks, oh sorry I had a typo. I just meant is having sand with fresh water tropical fine for the fish , is it going to effect them in a negative way at all?

 

[damizza]

Thanks for the thread on cycling btw, very informative.

 

[heresmike]

It shouldn't have any negative effect on the fish. In fact, some fish like it better. Like bottom dwellers can find the food on the bottom easier. And African cichlids seem to like to dig in the sand better than in gravel (so I've heard). I have no experience with sand... I'm currently cycling a tank with sand... but this is what I've heard from others.

Glad to be of help! Good luck cycling!

 

[babyfish]

sand will be most beneficial to your fish and plants and it looks so much nicer than gravel, plus playpit sand is only about £2.50 a 25kg bag from argos,just make sure you wash it well.

 

[noop]

my tank is now half gravel and half sand. i wanted sand cos my cories dig it

i have a mature amazon sword rooted in gravel, and a baby amazon sword rooted in sand. the baby's roots keep coming out - i guess i should get one of those thingies to hold the roots down below the surface. it seems to be doing fine though i have heard that some plants prefer gravel

 

[damizza]

Thank you all so much the information has been most valuable, I've had tanks for a long time, but I haven't really educated myself on them too much !!!!