I want to change the gravel in my 20l. I have multiple colors in it now, but I want to go with just black gravel. I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this. I have 2 sponges with extablished bacteria, so I don't think that would be a problem. Can I just scoop tha old gravel out and put the new gravel in, after the new gravel has been washed of course.
Complete Gravel Change
- Thread starter Snake Eyez
- Start date
should work. though if there are fish in the tank, "scooping" might be messy.
I can't think of a better way though... siphon it out with a hose maybe?
I can't think of a better way though... siphon it out with a hose maybe?
I suggest vacuuming the hell out of the gravel before you scoop away to eliminate some of the messiness.
Good luck!
Sam
Good luck!
Sam
The best method I've found is to suck it out with a siphon, it may take a couple of water changes to get it all but it works nicely. Just get a sieve (food strainers work) of appropriate size to sit on top of your bucket and the use a straight hose (no vaccum attachment) and siphon away. The strainer will catch the gravel, the water will go on through. most of the nasty dirt you stir up will go out with the gravel as well.
For a few days in a row, do a good, thorough gravel cleaning. Gravel vac. right down to the bottom and be as thorough as you can.
Then, when that's done, do it one more time on the day that you plan to make the change just to pick up any new waste from the day before.
Depending on the size of your tank (and therefore size of the job), it may also help to remove it in fractions. Like remove gravel from half the tank, even it out with the remaining gravel. The next day, remove the rest and add in the new gravel.
Dave, have you had any luck syphoning gravel out? I tried that appoach first, but found my syphon not strong enough and resorted to scooping with a fish net.
Then, when that's done, do it one more time on the day that you plan to make the change just to pick up any new waste from the day before.
Depending on the size of your tank (and therefore size of the job), it may also help to remove it in fractions. Like remove gravel from half the tank, even it out with the remaining gravel. The next day, remove the rest and add in the new gravel.
Dave, have you had any luck syphoning gravel out? I tried that appoach first, but found my syphon not strong enough and resorted to scooping with a fish net.
I did a total gravel change a month and a half ago, and it went so smooth!
Get a plastic milk gallon jug... cut the bottom off
Get a few pairs of nylon stockings (knee highs work best)
1. Thoroughly vacuum gravel 2 or 3 times a few days before you are going to do the switch
2. Remove fish and put into a bucket or rubbermaid container (just makes things easier)
3. Take the milk jug, put a knee high stocking over the spout part, and scoop the gravel up in the cut-off end of milk jug. Then kind of shake the gravel into the knee high (takes a few tries to get the knack of holding the end of the knee high so it doesn't fall off the spout)
4. Repeat until all the gravel is gone (and contained in the knee highs)
5. You can, if you want, let the knee high's sit in your tank for a few days to allow bacteria to go from the old gravel to the new... I did this, but only because I also changed every piece of decoration as well and was worried about losing beneficial bacteria... though some say it isn't really necessary.
Good luck!
~Tara
Get a plastic milk gallon jug... cut the bottom off
Get a few pairs of nylon stockings (knee highs work best)
1. Thoroughly vacuum gravel 2 or 3 times a few days before you are going to do the switch
2. Remove fish and put into a bucket or rubbermaid container (just makes things easier)
3. Take the milk jug, put a knee high stocking over the spout part, and scoop the gravel up in the cut-off end of milk jug. Then kind of shake the gravel into the knee high (takes a few tries to get the knack of holding the end of the knee high so it doesn't fall off the spout)
4. Repeat until all the gravel is gone (and contained in the knee highs)
5. You can, if you want, let the knee high's sit in your tank for a few days to allow bacteria to go from the old gravel to the new... I did this, but only because I also changed every piece of decoration as well and was worried about losing beneficial bacteria... though some say it isn't really necessary.
Good luck!
~Tara
The syphoning power/speed depends on the height difference between your tank and your bucket. And also the size and weight of your gravel. If you've got small gravel and a big height difference you should have no problem doing it but if it's large gravel and little height difference you'll have no hope of sucking up the gravel.
And unfortunately 'you cannot change the laws of physics'
My tank's on quite a tall cabinet and if I put my bucket on the floor when doing water changes, it syphons far too quickly.
And unfortunately 'you cannot change the laws of physics'
My tank's on quite a tall cabinet and if I put my bucket on the floor when doing water changes, it syphons far too quickly.
I don't think I'll be able to syphon the gravel up. I was thinking of scooping it out, which will make my tank water real dirty. Then I'll let is sit around and let the filters clean as much as possible for a few hours and let everything settle back down on the bottom. After that I'll come in with the syphon and suck as much junk of the bottom as possible and then add the new gravel.
That's the plan, which means that something will go wrong and my tank will look horrible for awhile.
That's the plan, which means that something will go wrong and my tank will look horrible for awhile.
I have done this many times, as I transfer gravel from one UGF to another when needed for Q-tank or new set-up. I generlly use a larger than normal hose with with no vaccum on the end of it, the flow rate of your siphon will be pretty high and the rocks just pull right up with the water. if you keep the hose buried well in the substrate it will take a lot of rocks with a little water, thus the job gets done quicker. For a 10 g I use a hose with an ID of 3/8" or 1/2", for anything larger than 20g. I use 3/4" or 1" hose.