Would This Be A Good Idea

[juelz]

im thinking of redoing my 29 gallon more specifically taking out the under gravel filter putting in sand and adding live plants

only problem with that is i have fish in currently residing in the 29 gallon
9 of them to be precise

i also have an empty 35 gallon right beside the 29 g. which im in the process of starting up

once the 35 gallon is set up would it be possible to temporarily put my fish in the 35 gallon then redo my 29 gallon nd then move the fish back to their original home

if this isnt a good idea can u suggest sumthing that would work

please and thank you

 

[IovaykInD]

Yea, that would work, but just make sure the 35 gallon is already cycled. If you put the filter into the 35 gallon while you're fixing up your 29, then the filter will remain cycled, while you redo your 29 gallon.

 

[love_fish]

Yea, just throw your filter in the 35 with the fish while you redo the 29.

 

[diademhill]

Everything depends on you having a mature filter prepared. You need to have a moveable filter running in the tank with the UG for at least three weeks prior to removing the gravel bed - this filter stays with the fish in whichever tank.
It is a good idea to put some of the gravel in stockings to lay in the new tanks to seed the filters too.

 

[juelz]

It is a good idea to put some of the gravel in stockings to lay in the new tanks to seed the filters too.

what do u mean by seeding the filters?

 

[love_fish]

Well, theres barely any benefiacial bacteria on the substrate, but you could try it and see how it works.

 

[diademhill]

Well, theres barely any benefiacial bacteria on the substrate, but you could try it and see how it works.

Actually if an undergravel filter is being removed then that is where the bacteria will be.

 

[juelz]

so in brief summary would i just

put the fish in the 35 galllon, take out the undergravel filter, do some re-aquascaping, and put the fish back in

 

[diademhill]

so in brief summary would i just

put the fish in the 35 galllon, take out the undergravel filter, do some re-aquascaping, and put the fish back in

As long as you have another mature filter already running.