Gravel - Tricky

[puppyjess123]

Well when I first started fishkeeping I had no idea about gravel and jumped right in and got some bright blue and green gravel. A while ago I wasn't to keen on it so I decided to add some natural coloured gravel, thinking the bright gravel would stay at the bottom and be hidden. Problem is after a couple of gravel vacs it had all mixed into each other and looks horrible. Now other than picking the blue and green gravel out by hand who has any ideas on how to seperate them, leaving just the natural coloured gravel in the tank. And I can't pick it out by hand as it would take months!

Lucy

 

[markandhisfish]

to be honest id just dump the lot and add some new natural gravel. trying to seperate that lot will be next to impossible

 

[puppyjess123]

Well being 12 and all gravel does cost a lot - any ideas anyone?

 

[fatheadminnow]

Well being 12 and all gravel does cost a lot - any ideas anyone?

Is the natural colored gravel a different size then the colorful gravel your had in there?

-FHM

 

[puppyjess123]

erm around the same size - some bits of natural gravel are a bit smaller

 

[fatheadminnow]

erm around the same size - some bits of natural gravel are a bit smaller

Darn, I was going to say put all the rocks in a bucket and shake it a lot, this will make all the bigger rocks come to the top, while the smaller ones go to the bottom.

-FHM

 

[Truck]

erm around the same size - some bits of natural gravel are a bit smaller

dump it all, buy bags of play sand looks great, doesnt put a dint in the budget (£5 for 25kg)

 

[puppyjess123]

Well I had this before in another of my tanks and with 5 harlequins and a sunset gourami it looked a right mess and was diffucult to clean. I might try it though as I have some already.

 

[Truck]

Well I had this before in another of my tanks and with 5 harlequins and a sunset gourami it looked a right mess and was diffucult to clean. I might try it though as I have some already.

if you have cories it will be clean all the time, mine is always spotless

 

[puppyjess123]

Okay then I have 6 cories will try + sand looks good

 

[puppyjess123]

Should I pick out the gravel by hand? And then wash out the sand again and just pour it into the water?

 

[puppyjess123]

bump

 

[fatheadminnow]

Should I pick out the gravel by hand? And then wash out the sand again and just pour it into the water?

Pick it out by hand from your tank?

I would just scoop out all the gravel in your tank, wipe out the tank, and then put the sand in.

If you keep the water in the tank, when you pour the sand in it is going to get cloudy, and it will probably stay that way for a day or so.

-FHM

 

[puppyjess123]

Yes but what would I do with all the water and fish

 

[Just_Another_One]

Heres what I did yesterday when I changed from sand back to gravel:

1.put all fish in a bowl/bucket
2.empty out tank water, plants, and wood
3.scoup all the sand out into garbage bags
4.wash the sides and bottom of tank
5.add rinsed gravel and plants and wood
6. fill up with water and fish and DONE

It was actually really really easy.