How To Change Gravel To Sand?

[-FighterFishh]

I really like the look of sand in tanks, but I currently have gravel. I was wondering how I would be able to change the gravel to sand without disrupting the fish in the tank too much? I have two platies and three 0.5cm fry in the tank (maybe a little bigger) which I'd also obviously like to make sure I don't hurt in the process.
Also, does sand clog up filters? This was what I was told and was the reason I went for gravel in the first place.
And another thing (sorry! ), how do you clean the sand before you put it into the tank? We cleaned the gravel with a colander. Would you clean the sand the same way?
Thank you for any advice given!

 

[Warehouse]

This should answer some questions:

Changing from gravel to sand during the cycle

 

[-FighterFishh]

This should answer some questions:

Changing from gravel to sand during the cycle

Thank you!
Could I take off a layer of gravel (I actually have 2 layers down, one with bigger pieces and one with smaller, rounder pieces on top) and then replace it with sand? That would leave some of the nutrients for the plants and I also wouldn't be in there for as long trying to get it all out?

 

[Rynofasho]

This should answer some questions:

Changing from gravel to sand during the cycle

Thank you!
Could I take off a layer of gravel (I actually have 2 layers down, one with bigger pieces and one with smaller, rounder pieces on top) and then replace it with sand? That would leave some of the nutrients for the plants and I also wouldn't be in there for as long trying to get it all out?

You could, yes, but if the sole purpose is for your plants, you may want to just put down a layer of ecocomplete or some type of plant substrate that would better serve your purpose.

 

[Shaman]

I changed from gravel to gravel/sand on Tuesday.

Emptied the tank down and removed the fish. Then removed some of the gravel and placed the sand on top. Hopefully the sand is going to settle down between the gravel to create a riverbed look rather than pure sand or pure gravel.

It may need topping up so I've got an old vacuum cleaner pipe to tip the sand down and direct to the right place!

 

[-FighterFishh]

This should answer some questions:

Changing from gravel to sand during the cycle

Thank you!
Could I take off a layer of gravel (I actually have 2 layers down, one with bigger pieces and one with smaller, rounder pieces on top) and then replace it with sand? That would leave some of the nutrients for the plants and I also wouldn't be in there for as long trying to get it all out?

You could, yes, but if the sole purpose is for your plants, you may want to just put down a layer of ecocomplete or some type of plant substrate that would better serve your purpose.

It's partly for plants but also because I think that the less gravel I take out the less stressed the fish will get.

I changed from gravel to gravel/sand on Tuesday.

Emptied the tank down and removed the fish. Then removed some of the gravel and placed the sand on top. Hopefully the sand is going to settle down between the gravel to create a riverbed look rather than pure sand or pure gravel.

It may need topping up so I've got an old vacuum cleaner pipe to tip the sand down and direct to the right place!

That's a clever way to get it into the right place! I may steal that if I find a decent pipe!
I really didn't want to empty the whole tank or remove the fish. It just seems to be so much work.. I think I might take out all the plants and rocks instead (I will anyway since I'm going to redo the decor) and then take out the gravel on the right half of the tank and replace it with sand. If I think it looks strange I'll cut up a pair of tights, put it over the end of the filter and then replace the rest

 

[Shaman]

Just be careful if adding sand when fish are in because when I initially tried to top a bare spot up after re-filling the tank, the sand billowed out and showered my rams. They didn't seem to mind just one sand shower but if your putting lots of sand in then they may get stressed!

Take some of the water out as well when you add the sand, makes things a little easier! I've not really tried the pipe method yet! Going to give it a go after I sand vac tomorrow!

BTW, sand holds fish poop like a #29### so you may need to sand vac every 2-3 days rather than weekly!

Shaman