It's been a hot minute. Changing substrate

[thrujenseyes]

Hey all, I think it's been a couple of years since I've checked in.
All had been well (in the tank anyway...not so much in the world...goodness, but we won't go there).
I have the little 6 gallon fluval edge with shrimp and a nerite snail.
I had three little ember tetra for years but the last died so I figured now would be the time to make the change to sand that I've wanted to do.

I had the very small black flourite gravel, which I loved but I want a more natural look.
I purchased a larger grain tan sand yesterday from LFS, two small bags.
I had them in a 5 gallon bucket all day yesterday washing and rinsing and etc....over and over ....until the end of time.
It's now sitting in that bucket with a little water waiting for me to get to it (probably next weekend).

I also bought a new amazing piece of caspian wood that I boiled 4 separate times yesterday, dumping water in between and now that is also sitting in water waiting.

My question is... What is my best way to go about the switch. Nothing is easy with the small opening but I've gotten pretty good at maneuvering.
But my shrimp, I have 8 cherry and one amano and one nerite snail (my amano and nerite have been with me for 5 years and I most certainly do not want to shock them).
And a few of my shrimp are pregnant. So the least stressful way to do this....even if it's tricker.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Guyb93]

Hey all, I think it's been a couple of years since I've checked in.
All had been well (in the tank anyway...not so much in the world...goodness, but we won't go there).
I have the little 6 gallon fluval edge with shrimp and a nerite snail.
I had three little ember tetra for years but the last died so I figured now would be the time to make the change to sand that I've wanted to do.

I had the very small black flourite gravel, which I loved but I want a more natural look.
I purchased a larger grain tan sand yesterday from LFS, two small bags.
I had them in a 5 gallon bucket all day yesterday washing and rinsing and etc....over and over ....until the end of time.
It's now sitting in that bucket with a little water waiting for me to get to it (probably next weekend).

I also bought a new amazing piece of caspian wood that I boiled 4 separate times yesterday, dumping water in between and now that is also sitting in water waiting.

My question is... What is my best way to go about the switch. Nothing is easy with the small opening but I've gotten pretty good at maneuvering.
But my shrimp, I have 8 cherry and one amano and one nerite snail (my amano and nerite have been with me for 5 years and I most certainly do not want to shock them).
And a few of my shrimp are pregnant. So the least stressful way to do this....even if it's tricker.

Thank you in advance!

Is personal use a thick tube and syphon it out over a few days just like a water change but you have small shrimp so maybe a little risky , easiest way too me seems to be take the shrimp and snails out for a few minutes n just blast it out and change it be much easier to clean any debris under the gravel that could be lost in the new sand

 

[Colin_T]

I would drain the water into a bucket. Catch the shrimp out and put them in the bucket of water. Remove everything else form the tank. Wash it out and set it back up with the new substrate. Then fill it with the old water and shrimp and top up with dechlorinated water.

 

[thrujenseyes]

I’ll see if reducing the water will allow me to catch them. The small opening makes netting very tricky.
If not I think I’ll do the large syphon and pray I don’t suck any up.
I think that mighty be best option as to not stir up too much of the horror show that I’m sure lies beneath the substrate … which can potentially poison my shrimp

 

[Guyb93]

I’ll see if reducing the water will allow me to catch them. The small opening makes netting very tricky.
If not I think I’ll do the large syphon and pray I don’t suck any up.
I think that mighty be best option as to not stir up too much of the horror show that I’m sure lies beneath the substrate … which can potentially poison my shrimp

I changed my substrate from gravel to sand maybe a year ago now and honestly if my corys didn’t need it I would swap back , I used the syphon method (stress free) no shrimp involved lol but I rushed it because of leaving the fish in and I’m adamant I battled no3 levels for a while just because of how dense the sand packs in the left over crap and stuff under the gravel could never come to the surface . I would go with the syphon again but I’d take a lot longer about cleaning if I re did it again mine was over a 5ft tank though so I think you would have no issue with getting everything out , good luck and keep us posted with the change

 

[thrujenseyes]

I changed my substrate from gravel to sand maybe a year ago now and honestly if my corys didn’t need it I would swap back , I used the syphon method (stress free) no shrimp involved lol but I rushed it because of leaving the fish in and I’m adamant I battled no3 levels for a while just because of how dense the sand packs in the left over crap and stuff under the gravel could never come to the surface . I would go with the syphon again but I’d take a lot longer about cleaning if I re did it again mine was over a 5ft tank though so I think you would have no issue with getting everything out , good luck and keep us posted with the change

I’d love to hear why you’d change back? I wanted a more natural look but I’m nervous about the dense packing and I don’t want those trumpet snails that help shovel thru it. I feel like if I just stir it up during water change days I’ll be ok? My tank is so small so I dont see managing sand being terrible….but I want to know if I’m wrong

 

[Guyb93]

I’d love to hear why you’d change back? I wanted a more natural look but I’m nervous about the dense packing and I don’t want those trumpet snails that help shovel thru it. I feel like if I just stir it up during water change days I’ll be ok? My tank is so small so I dont see managing sand being terrible….but I want to know if I’m wrong

I’d change back for cleaning reasons
I personally find gravel so easily to clean being heavy handed as to where sand takes a more gentle touch . I have had to do more tank maintenance since the change
It looks good and fish seem to prefer my corys help keep it turned over in a way but still have grey areas deep down , I’d advise if your not planting in the sand keep it as shallow as possible just to keep it oxygenated n avoid the bad stuff , I plan on removing a inch of sand soon as all my plants are dead lol

 

[Slaphppy7]

You can siphon shrimp into a bucket without harming them...just make sure the bucket is partially filled before beginning

 

[thrujenseyes]

I’d change back for cleaning reasons
I personally find gravel so easily to clean being heavy handed as to where sand takes a more gentle touch . I have had to do more tank maintenance since the change
It looks good and fish seem to prefer my corys help keep it turned over in a way but still have grey areas deep down , I’d advise if your not planting in the sand keep it as shallow as possible just to keep it oxygenated n avoid the bad stuff , I plan on removing a inch of sand soon as all my plants are dead lol

Ok, that's fair...I've heard this as well.
I'm not totally upset about that part as I have to be so careful anyway with the shrimp that I was never able to be heavy handed when vacuuming.
Plus there is no way to be heavy handed in the fluval edge with that tiny opening.

As for the plants, I can only keep the Anubias species alive in my water/tank. Nothing else lives. Therefore the rhizomes are all above substrate.
I'd LOVE to have a tank full of plants but my water/tank does't seem to allow for that.

 

[thrujenseyes]

You can siphon shrimp into a bucket without harming them...just make sure the bucket is partially filled before beginning

the thought of them flying into an empty bucket (although sad) made me giggle.
But yes, I have siphoned one by accident before and he was fine

 

[Slaphppy7]

the thought of them flying into an empty bucket (although sad) made me giggle.
But yes, I have siphoned one by accident before and he was fine

I've accidentally siphoned fish into a bucket, as well....before I started using a knee-high nylon over my siphon tube (long ago)....besides the mild myocardial infarction I experienced, no harm done...just netted the fish out of the bucket, and put him back in the tank

 

[thrujenseyes]

I've accidentally siphoned fish into a bucket, as well....before I started using a knee-high nylon over my siphon tube (long ago)....besides the mild myocardial infarction I experienced, no harm done...just netted the fish out of the bucket, and put him back in the tank

Lol “mild myocardial infarction” … I felt the same. I was horrified.

 

[Guyb93]

I syphon straight out of a window risky life for a fish in my tank

 

[Slaphppy7]

I syphon straight out of a window risky life for a fish in my tank

Hopefully, into a lake or stream...wait, we're not supposed to do that....N/M

 

[Guyb93]

Hopefully, into a lake or stream...wait, we're not supposed to do that....N/M

Nah straight on my front garden lol best grass on the street