Switching from Gravel to Sand

[DieselJunki]

Ok so I have an already established 10 gallon tank with 1 rainbow shark in it (it's like 3 or 4 years old) and it has a blue gravel as a substrate. I want to move it over to sand. Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to do this without upsetting anything?

[Arturo]

I used a empty48 ouce cup from Mc dees. It shouldn't be that hard since ur tank is not big, take all the gravel out make sure to clean the sand thoroughly then put sand in with the same cup.

[Blown 346]

ALot of bacteris will be in the gravel. The easiest way to di this without worrying about a cycle is to do this slowly.

Once a week take out a quarter of the gravel and replace it with your sand. It should take you 4 weeks before you are gravel free. This method will give the bacteria you take out, to reproduce and take over the new sand you just added. Doing it all at once will cause a cycle and your shark might not like it. Also make sure to rinse the sand very well to cut down on dust.

I usually put the sand in the cup after its rinsed and slowly lower the cup intot eh tank so you dont have sand going all over. Gently tip the cup over once your at the bottom of the tank.

[BettaFishMommy]

i agree, switch out the substrate a portion at a time, so you avoid a mini cycle. most of your beneficial bacteria live in the filter but there is some in the substrate and you don't want to disrupt too much of the balance at any one time.

[DieselJunki]

Ok, will do a portion at a time. Now I am not sure what I want to use for sand. . . Some say play sand or pool filter sand (which is lighter in color so I hear). I have also heard of this Estes Black Marine Sand. I figure since my tank already has dark gravel in it and I like the look I want to stick to a dark color sand. I have looked up the black sand and it looks to be almost the same size as the gravel I have now. Are the grains really that big? I hear they are bigger then regular sand but that way I don't have to worry about it being sucked up into my filters. I just don't want them to big that it looks basically like gravel again.

I am also starting a 40 gallon and this will kind of be my test tank to see if I actually like the black sand.

[theredchaser]

I would just take your fish out and do it all at the same time. Unless you have a really wimpy filter or just cleaned it, then there should be more than enough in your filter. Be ready to do water changes, but from my experience if you keep the feedings light for a few days you don't need to do anything.

Doing it in portions stresses your fish like no other. If you insist on doing this method, I would do a very very thorough gravel vac to try to get rid of most of the mulm. Even then your water is probably going to turn out really dirty and maybe clog your filters...

[James0816]

Only have the one fish? Don't worry about it. Swap it out same day.

Rinse your sand. When done...rinse some more.
Pull out all the gravel and let things settle.
Do a pwc using the hose of the gravel vac only. This way you can use your finger to pause the flow. Suck up all the goodies on the bottle. Doing it this way removes less water.
As mentioned above, use the cup to put the sand in. Fill cup with sand, slowly lower it to the bottom, slowly pour it out. Very minimal to no cloudiness. Don't pour it out next to your filter intake though. Use your hand to spread it out.

Good to go!

:grinyes:

[bgcoop8784]

take the sand and put it in an old beach towel thats hanging from something and rince it, makes the job much easier and gets it much cleaner, you'd probably be safe making the change all at once but the best way as said above is to change a little at a time or you can just put the sand in with the gravel and once every couple days or week use a strainer scoop out some of the gravel and it leaves the sand.

[ibr3ak]

If you're worried about mini cycles and loss of beneficial bacteria, take a couple stockings or fine mesh bags and fill them with your old gravel, keeping them in the tank for a few days to a week after the switch.

[katana1200]

For black sand you can always go with 3M colorquartz S-grade. It's super fine. I have not used it yet but you need to get it from a dealer. It's usually used in custom pool construction and is a quartz material covered in a colored ceramic glaze if I am not mistaken. Use the distributor locator on the 3M website to find a dealer near you. From time to time you see it on ebay as well, usually not the brand name.

Store locator: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ColorQuartz/HomePage/Products/Buy

Thread to AC 3M S-grade thread: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167015

[DieselJunki]

Ok switched over my 10 with playsand but really really want that 3M stuff for my 40 gallon. I had heard about it before and it was pretty much I WANT THAT! at first site lol. I will need to call around for it though. I'm sure it will be hard to locate :(.

[DieselJunki]

Before with gravel and fake plants
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa156/Ferrett207/IMG_0462.jpg

After with sand and real plants! I have gone natural :p:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa156/Ferrett207/IMG_0478.jpg