Can I replace my gravel and add fish the same day safely?

spankey

AC Members
Dec 21, 2001
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Boyertown, PA
I am setting up my 55 gallon this weekend from a planted tank to a cichlid tank. I am going to pull out my existing fish and give them to my son..

Some ghorami's, ottos, and some barbs....

Any rate. I want to get all the river rock and sand base out of the tank and replace it with flroida crushed coral for ph reasons and looks...

My question is this.. I have a magnum 220 on the tank now for about 6 months... I just added an AC300 last week.. If I try to keep 50% of the water for biological reasons? Will I be able to add fish the next day? Safely? Or doing a 50% water change, will I have to re-cycle the tank? I am considering a malawi setup...

Also is coral messy, should it be washed really good before adding?

Thanks
Spankey
 
Water's not the issue for biofiltration. Gravel and filter media are. Keep them and you should be OK.
 
Yeah I think the river rock should look OK?

My tanks PH is exactly 8.0 and my PH is high at 9.0!!!!:eek: So I think I will leave things well enought alone and remove the community fish and start adding my CICHLIDS!!!! YAHOOO......

I can't wait...:D

Spankey
 
LOL-

Opps.. Sorry bout that... ????

I meant to say that my tanks ph is steady at 8.0 and my TAP water is at 9.0.... So my tank is holding a ph of 8, so I see no need for crushed coral. I think the river rock is buffering it at 8.0...


Sorry for not adding that.....

Spankey
 
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