Substrate Change Questions

[Alexarium]

My tank is an Aquanano 40 and is heavily planted
 

 
The fauna is

• Two Honey Gouramis (M/F)
• 8-9 Galaxy Rasboras
• 6 Chilli Rasboras
• 3 Rummynose Tetras (which will soon be back to the LFS, but if anyone wants them for free, I am located at Bournemouth so be my guest, come and get them!)
• 30 (approx.) Red Cherry Shrimps
• 2 Nerite Snails

I only add water and ferts once in a while, as conditions are now stable and everyone in there is happy. No CO2.
 
The tank was initially set up with Colombo Flora Base. Happy with it, but it has become mud after a while. I topped it up slightly and it looks fine now, but I think it's "dying" slowly.
So I decided that all my tanks will turn to sand from now on.
 
I am looking to buy some Limpopo Black Sand. I chose that for being inert and for having a nice dark colour. I am open to other suggestions.
 
My questions are:

1. What procedure would you follow to do that?
2. Would the fish and shrimps be ok in a small 12 LT bare Fluval Spec 3 tank (to which I have removed the rear separator completely) filled with the old tank's water in it for a few hours (5-6?) and maybe a heater?
3. How bad would the effect be on the bacteria and general chemistry in the tank? Mind you, I have two large bags with ceramic noodles and a massive sponge in the filtration system at the back of the tank, which I will store in the tank's water while I do the substrate change. Would that cause any nasty spikes?

Any advice appreciated
 
TIA
 
Alex

 

[Chad]

Well, here's how I do it:
 

• Drain some water into a small container
• Remove the plants and put them in there along with decorations
• Drain more water into a larger container
• Clean the roots of one or two plants really well and put them in the larger container so the fish have some place to hide (reduces stress)
• Catch the fish, snails, shrimp, whatever and put them in the above container. 
• Remove filtration and either hook it up to the fish container or drain the rest of the water into a container and put it in there
• Now your old tank can be drained (if there's much water left) and the substrate removed
• I give my tanks a good algae cleaning at this time
• Go through the process of setting it back up and refilling it again etc.

I've found doing it that way is less stressful on my fish and by using the old water it maintains the bacteria. Since this whole process shouldn't take too long as the tank is small the bacteria should remain viable.