During cycling

[ChoiAquarium]

I'm halfway through my cycling process. But I wish to get rid of my coral sand, as my tap ph is 7.4 but with coral sand it is 8.0. Instead I want to replace my coral sand with dark colored gravel.

Now my question is, would this hinder the cycling process, as the benficial bacteria also lives in coral sand.

Thank You

 

[Rbishop]

Are you doing a fishless cycle?

 

[ChoiAquarium]

Nope , im doing a fishy cycling with 3 guppies

 

[Rbishop]

You will lose some of the bacteria, as it grows on anything in contact with the water. A large share of it is in your filter media. What size tank do you have? You could do half at a time or just do it now, all at once, and closely watch your water conditions.

 

[mostlycichlids]

you will be ok if you just change it out now and leave a couple of bags of sand in the tank for a day or two. Being you are cycling anyway you should be keeping an eye on your levels anyway.

 

[SubluxT7]

I agree with above poster. I would pull it all at at once and keep some in a media bag/stocking for awhile. Most of your bacteria are in the filters anyway and since you are cycling you should be alright (assuming you are watching the parameters closely.

SubluxT7:headbang2:

 

[OldMan47]

It depends what you will be keeping in that tank. If you are going for african rift lake cichlids, the high pH is just what the doctor ordered. If you are going to try to keep south americans you need to swap the sand ASAP. BTW guppies are south americans.