Deaths after substrate change

captmicha · Dec 22, 2013

I switched out old Aqua Soil clay pebble type substrate from three of my tanks to pool filter sand.

In the 15 gallon, I've had no deaths but the filter on that tank is over rated for the size and bio load. The other two tanks don't have over rated filters.

In the two 10 gallons, I've had deaths and ammonia readings that weren't terrible but weren't great.

I've been really good at regular water changes lately (last couple of months after my broken foot healed) and did even more tank cleaning with the ammonia readings but it seems to get toxic really fast. I also have lots of live plants.

I never considered that the substrate would carry such a substantial beneficial bacteria load.

I've since put xtra filters on these two 10 gallons while the new sand develops enough bacteria and hope not to see anymore deaths but how do I prevent this in the future?

I don't want to drag out another tank to temporarily house fish while their new substrate gets the bioload needed. It would take forever with multiple set ups.

Do I just seed the new sand with old sand next time?

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Joseph Huntley · Dec 22, 2013

well all your bacteria would have been hanging out in your substrate so changing it you'll end up now having to do a fish in cycle until your bacteria levels rise again

rufioman · Dec 22, 2013

Sorry, misread, it's like 4a here. Seed the new with the old. I use a cup with giant holes in it stuck right in the middle of the new soil bed so as to not mix the two. I did this with my 40b and my levels didn't get too weird on me.

The Zigman · Dec 22, 2013

Where did you get the sand from?
I doubt the the loss of any nitrifying bacteria in the substrate would be substantial. (assuming the tanks were all cycled)

I am thinking there was possibly some contaminant in the new sand.

tanker · Dec 22, 2013

Try extra dose of Prime.

tanker · Dec 22, 2013

The Zigman said:
I doubt the the loss of any nitrifying bacteria in the substrate would be substantial. (assuming the tanks were all cycled)

I think most of the good bacteria would be on the gravel. They cannot just live in the water. Must attach to something.

Vindoo · Dec 22, 2013

I hope thats not the cause as I just did my 55 gallon as well. Changed from some crazy glow pink/purple that came used in the tank when I bought it to a more natural stone look...No deaths yet but it was only yesterday and there was allot of sediment/crap in the old gravel when we rinsed it.

captmicha · Dec 22, 2013

I don't think the new substrate is contaminated because there's been zero problems with the 15 gallon tank.

I feel really crappy for killing some fish due to such an ignorant mistake on my part.

I think I need new Prime. Who on here sells the powder?

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The Zigman · Dec 22, 2013

tanker said:
I think most of the good bacteria would be on the gravel. They cannot just live in the water. Must attach to something.

the vast majority of your "good bacteria" live in the filter, although it lives on any surface in the tank. I have changed substrates in many tanks without issue.

dougall · Dec 22, 2013

Another vote for bacteria in the filter, not so much in the substrate,

I would ask if anything was removed from the tank at the same time as the substrate change (decor, plants, hardscape etc.)

my instinct is that there was a bunch of decaying organics in the substrate before the change, the change of substrate stirred that up into the water column causing a ammonia/nitrite spike.

Shouldn't be a problem to completely switch substrate, unless you were doing a whole bunch of other maintenance at the same time, so likely to be something you uncovered.


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Deaths after substrate change

captmicha

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Joseph Huntley

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rufioman

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The Zigman

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