I used to have discus in my 40 gallon tank which has now been converted to an African Cichlid tank. Although the gravel in it is still the same blue and green color which I hate. Is there any easy way to change the gravel with the fish in the tank and replace it with a new color, without taking the fish out?
Gravel Change?
- Thread starter macman7010
- Start date
I'd do some serious gravel cleaning for a couple days beforehand, then just scoop the old stuff up with a net then add the new, well rinsed, gravel. Or at least that's what I did with my 20gal.
DarthV is right clean that gravel like never before, as you p/u the old gravel you are going to stir alot of waste which could raise your levels shocking your fish, also make sure your tank is very well filtered, even more so than usual. After the change is complete replace the filters a couple of times and you may want to get some secondary carbon filtration inserts. Marineland makes a substance called Diamod blend that helps reduce ammonia and Nitrite levels. Also Algone sells packets for the same, just an idea to reduce any shocking that can occur.
Algone
Marineland
Good Luck !!
just a hint if you buy Marineland's product the dosage directions are buried inside the canister and make sure you rinse it off before putting in your filtration system.
Algone
Marineland
Good Luck !!
just a hint if you buy Marineland's product the dosage directions are buried inside the canister and make sure you rinse it off before putting in your filtration system.
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I wouldn't replace any filter media after doing the change, heck I wouldn't replace any media for 3-4 weeks, since you will be removing a part of you bateria colonies from the old substrate.
When ireplaced my gravel i took some of the old gravel and put it in stockings(pantyhose) and laid it in the back of my tank on top of the new gravel. This will help get your new gravel seeded and will help keep the water tests levels down.
I have never replaced gravel with fish still in the tank but i did just redo my 58g planted tank. It took me about 1 1/2 weeks to get it all done as i took half the plants out and cleaned the gravel, then the next day i did another gravel vac and clean the rest of the plants out. I kept doing gravel vacs and WC untill the gravel was relatively clean and didn't get the water dirty when i disturbed it. Maybe you should do your gravel cleaning in stages not all at once. The first par tof my tank cleanign made my tank VERY dirty and the fish did not seem happy afterwards.
I have never replaced gravel with fish still in the tank but i did just redo my 58g planted tank. It took me about 1 1/2 weeks to get it all done as i took half the plants out and cleaned the gravel, then the next day i did another gravel vac and clean the rest of the plants out. I kept doing gravel vacs and WC untill the gravel was relatively clean and didn't get the water dirty when i disturbed it. Maybe you should do your gravel cleaning in stages not all at once. The first par tof my tank cleanign made my tank VERY dirty and the fish did not seem happy afterwards.
Thank everyone for the wonderful insights and replies. What I plan to do is when I do my normal tank maintenance this week I will clean the gravel with my gravel cleaner extremely well. I dont think I will take all the gravel out but enough to were the new covers up the ugly colored old stuff. The tank I am doing the change on is a 40 gallon and the filtration is pretty hefty One Emperor 400 filter system and a Whisper 30-60 Filter System. The Emperor I keep packed with Ammo Carb at all time, although I have heard wonderful things about Diamond Blend so I will pick some of that up.
Why couldn't you remove all the water from the tank, remove the gravel, and clean it out. Then add your new substrate.
Save half the aged water in a large tub with the fish. Then pour the aged water into the refurbished tank, and fil the other half with new water therefore copleteing a water change too. No vacs needed, and you keep aged water. If this is all done is a reasonable time, the fish should be aok.
Save half the aged water in a large tub with the fish. Then pour the aged water into the refurbished tank, and fil the other half with new water therefore copleteing a water change too. No vacs needed, and you keep aged water. If this is all done is a reasonable time, the fish should be aok.