How would I do this?

[Auratus]

My gravel in my tank has become so nasty I just want to get rid of it. The colors came off of the gravel it's so old. And there is a ton of those fake jewels that just seem to be an algae magnet. Do I just bag my fish and take it out?

Also, this new algae growth started. Green dots all over the walls. I can't get it off. I want to clean it when I change the gravel. What is the easiest way to do all of this?

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Sounds like you want to give your tank a good overhaul.

No problem. It doesn't happen often, but here is how I do it.

Use, or buy a bin big enough for the fish. You can get a plastic bin a similar size as your aquarium for pretty cheap. fill it with water and allow it to settle to room temperature. Run an airstone in it if you have one. I always use fresh water for these purposes, never old aquarium water - there is a reason why you want to do this cleanup, afterall. Unplug the heater of the tank and let that settle down to room temp as well. Once the temps match, move the fish and filters into the bin. Then remove the gravel and place the new stuff in, scrub the glass, clean what you want to clean, replace most of the water with new, clean water, let it reach room temperature again. Transfer the fish and filters back into the tank, and plug in the heater.

You will obviously lose some of your bio-filter through the loss of the gravel, but you are saving what is in the filters, and the system will catch up again very quickly.

 

[Auratus]

I did it!

Took the gravel out and put in the new. Now it's black with a few neon pieces in it. But that's okay because I think it brings out the colors in my fish. I have a giant piece of rainbow rock with holes in it that was kind of green from the algae. I let it sit in algae killer and scrubbed and scrubbed it but it's still green!!!! I also let the plants sit in it for a while. I had to make sure they were super clean because I wanted to kill all of the snails. I can't use algae killer in my tank because it kills inverts. and I have ghost shrimp. I scrubbed the algae off of the walls but I think the problem is because I have it on the kitchen counter and light comes right in through the kitchen window at it. I am going to get an aquarium background to help reduce the light that the tank is getting. Changed the filter cartrage and kept most of the old water because I changed the filter. So, the fish are floating right now. I put the ghost shrimp and otos in one bag, the fish in another, and the betta in his old betta cup. All are floating around now. Used stress coat and stuff. Hopefully the tank will look a little better now and not look like a 6 year old chose the gravel . And maybe this will stop my snail problem because I know they were in the filter, plants, and gravel. The snails have been an ongoing problem for almost 4 months....

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Auratus

I hate to have to tell you this, but you made a big mistake by renovating your tank in such a drastic manner. Your tank is now uncycled and you will have to go through the entire process again. Here is the link so you can refresh your memory:

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

Most of the beneficial bacteria in a tank resides in the gravel and filter media. By removing them both at the same time and scrubbing everything else you have destroyed them. There are a few in the water you kept and they will reproduce for you, but this will take some time.

Just monitor your chemicals with your test kits and make small water changes and it will get back to normal. Do not any any new fish until it does.

You are correct about the daylight causing the algae to grow and by blocking it you will probably prevent it from getting out of hand again.

Good luck.

 

[Eelzor]

They say there is no short cut to cycling. Oh yes there is. Other than bio-spira being the only company that seems to show good result, I have relised more and more good products are coming on to the markets that work! If you see a product called "Sure Start" I HIGHLY recommend it. I tested it first with my convicts and worked like a charm. The next day I tried tests for ammonia and nitrite, and they both were low, except for nitrite which was a very tiny amount, and from there the nitrate just built, then I changed water like usual and the cycle started. It's all pretty new and I'm no sure if it is were you are. Then again - maybe Auratus hasn't ruined the cycle after all?

 

[living_dead]

Before i started reading this forum, I did that. My fish are fine though and were at that point in time. I now know the error of my ways and I hope your fish will survive this ordeal

 

[Losi]

First of all - Well done on successfully completing such a big job.

One thing though ( a question really).

If you remove the fish to 'Fresh Water' and then put them back in the tank are you not risking the fish suffering from PH shock??

 

[petshop johnny]

Sounds like sure recipe for death.you said to put them in new water .is your brother still beating your tank aurutus?