Well I figure switching over to the smaller substrate would be better (easier) then this river rock I'm using right now...so I ordered some Eco Complete, and right now they're projecting it to be here Saturday. I've never replaced gravel in a live tank before, but I got a rough idea of how I'm gonna do it...just looking for hints and pointers from people who may have also done something similar.
My water source is a shallow well with stable parameters...and I've been doing large (50% +) water changes with this water for awhile so I'm not too worried about it shocking the fish or anything. I have the spare 50l (~12 gallon) tank I'm not using, as well as old heaters I used to use in it.
My plan is to set up the 50l on a nightstand-type table below my 29 gal (for siphon purposes), and emptying current tank water into it (bare-bottom). After it's near full, I'll have the heater on it and transfer over one of my 2 filters, probably the Penguin 150 since it's been running the longest...Then I'll take my Colosseum decor and place it in the 50l, and work on netting all the fish and throwing them in as well.
Now that I have my 29 gal almost half empty and fishless, I'll pull all the plants out and throw them in a bucket with a few inches of water, turn off the heater, and finish emptying the tank out the window. When it's completely empty I'll grab up as much as the gravel as I can with my hands (would buying a mini-broom dust pan thingie help?) and toss it into another bucket. After all the old gravel is out, toss the new Eco complete in, a few inches of water, throw the Colosseum back in, and begin replanting...
Anyways, that's the rough idea...I also have a ton of plastic plants I'll probably throw into the temp tank (50l) just to help keep the fish calm...Being a 29 gal any way I do it won't be too much of a pain, but I figure a few tips from others who have done it might make it go more smoothly.
My water source is a shallow well with stable parameters...and I've been doing large (50% +) water changes with this water for awhile so I'm not too worried about it shocking the fish or anything. I have the spare 50l (~12 gallon) tank I'm not using, as well as old heaters I used to use in it.
My plan is to set up the 50l on a nightstand-type table below my 29 gal (for siphon purposes), and emptying current tank water into it (bare-bottom). After it's near full, I'll have the heater on it and transfer over one of my 2 filters, probably the Penguin 150 since it's been running the longest...Then I'll take my Colosseum decor and place it in the 50l, and work on netting all the fish and throwing them in as well.
Now that I have my 29 gal almost half empty and fishless, I'll pull all the plants out and throw them in a bucket with a few inches of water, turn off the heater, and finish emptying the tank out the window. When it's completely empty I'll grab up as much as the gravel as I can with my hands (would buying a mini-broom dust pan thingie help?) and toss it into another bucket. After all the old gravel is out, toss the new Eco complete in, a few inches of water, throw the Colosseum back in, and begin replanting...
Anyways, that's the rough idea...I also have a ton of plastic plants I'll probably throw into the temp tank (50l) just to help keep the fish calm...Being a 29 gal any way I do it won't be too much of a pain, but I figure a few tips from others who have done it might make it go more smoothly.
