I may want to switch from rock to sand substrate in the future but I have fish already in my tank. If I switch substrates, will this kill my fish. I am just concerned at the begining when I put the sand in. The sand will not settle right away and I am worried that my fish will be killed.
Is it ok to switch to sand with fish in my tank?
- Thread starter dom418
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You hear about people doing this unlikely thing surprisingly often. Sometimes they get away without immediate trauma to the fish.
Your nitrating bacteria need oxygen. If you stir them into the new substrate many will be smothered. Will you take the trouble to remove the topmost layer of substrate first and replace it when you're finished?
Are the fish going into a Rubbermaid bucket while you do this?
Your nitrating bacteria need oxygen. If you stir them into the new substrate many will be smothered. Will you take the trouble to remove the topmost layer of substrate first and replace it when you're finished?
Are the fish going into a Rubbermaid bucket while you do this?
I recently made the switch from gravel to sand in my 10gal tank. I took most of the fish out (two were stubborn about getting caught so I gave up heh). The two that were left seemed rather unbothered by what I was doing. I washed the sand VERY well and still the tank was quite a bit cloudy for several days.
Also keep in mind that you will lose a good chunk of your good bacteria that's living in your gravel now. If you have a biofilter, it shouldn't be a huge problem .. at least it wasn't for me. But I did have some ammonia spiking for a couple weeks. Nothing serious (.25), but I had to do more frequent partial water changes and more frequent water testing to keep things under control until the bacteria caught up again.
I'll also be making this switch in my 55gal soon as I get my nerve up. Not sure if the larger tank will make the problem of losing bacteria worse or not. I do have a biofilter on that tank as well and it only has 4 small fish in it, so hoping that will be in my favor
Also keep in mind that you will lose a good chunk of your good bacteria that's living in your gravel now. If you have a biofilter, it shouldn't be a huge problem .. at least it wasn't for me. But I did have some ammonia spiking for a couple weeks. Nothing serious (.25), but I had to do more frequent partial water changes and more frequent water testing to keep things under control until the bacteria caught up again.
I'll also be making this switch in my 55gal soon as I get my nerve up. Not sure if the larger tank will make the problem of losing bacteria worse or not. I do have a biofilter on that tank as well and it only has 4 small fish in it, so hoping that will be in my favor
do I have to remove the fish or will they be ok if I leave them in the tank while I change over to sand?
You really want someone to tell you that it's perfectly sensible to carefully pour sand onto your fish as they swim in the tank.
Take the fish out
when i made the switch over to sand, i removed the fish and put them in a rubbermaid bin. I also ran the heater in the bin, as well as the filter and air stone. Also, put your plants in the bin as well, to keep them wet.
empty the entire tank, ALL the water. if you don't have the buckets to keep it, just get rid of it (water). save the top layer of gravel and put it in a nylon stocking and tie it up. then put that nylon stocking in the bin with the fish. then take the rest of the gravel out, clean teh tank if you want and put the sand in.
Saving the top layer of gravel will save the benefical bacteria. You will put this in the tank once it's back together to keep the bacteria colony alive until it settles in your sand and on the plants. You will only need to keep this in the tank a week or so.
When you are ready to put water in the tank, just use new, de-chlorinated water.... but FIRST, put a plate on the sand and pour the water on to that, slowly. This way, it will NOT stir the sand up, and you will not have cloudy water. I have done it this way a number of times, and it works great, even with the cheapest, dirtiest playsand.
then, put your heater in the tank, set up your filter and you are ready to go. I prefer to add the fish when the heat is somewhere close to where it should be. I have also solved this by using warm water when I re-fill my tank. Just don't add the fish to a cold, cold tank. Like they need any more stress at this point!
Good luck! you can email me if you have any other questions....
when i made the switch over to sand, i removed the fish and put them in a rubbermaid bin. I also ran the heater in the bin, as well as the filter and air stone. Also, put your plants in the bin as well, to keep them wet.
empty the entire tank, ALL the water. if you don't have the buckets to keep it, just get rid of it (water). save the top layer of gravel and put it in a nylon stocking and tie it up. then put that nylon stocking in the bin with the fish. then take the rest of the gravel out, clean teh tank if you want and put the sand in.
Saving the top layer of gravel will save the benefical bacteria. You will put this in the tank once it's back together to keep the bacteria colony alive until it settles in your sand and on the plants. You will only need to keep this in the tank a week or so.
When you are ready to put water in the tank, just use new, de-chlorinated water.... but FIRST, put a plate on the sand and pour the water on to that, slowly. This way, it will NOT stir the sand up, and you will not have cloudy water. I have done it this way a number of times, and it works great, even with the cheapest, dirtiest playsand.
then, put your heater in the tank, set up your filter and you are ready to go. I prefer to add the fish when the heat is somewhere close to where it should be. I have also solved this by using warm water when I re-fill my tank. Just don't add the fish to a cold, cold tank. Like they need any more stress at this point!
Good luck!
you can email me if you have any other questions....Decz, that's a good idea to keep the top layer of gravel. After you switch out the substrate to sand, can you leave the top layer of gravel in the nylon sitting in the tank or would you have to actually spread it on top of the sand again?
Seems it would be ok leaving it in the nylon, but wasn't sure if that would harm the bacteria somehow.
Seems it would be ok leaving it in the nylon, but wasn't sure if that would harm the bacteria somehow.
You can leave it in the nylon, that's kinda the point of putting it in the nylon... You can also buy nylon type baggies for you aquarium from any lfs.. but useing an old pair of nylons from home, or even spending a couple of bucks at the dollar store is much cheaper....
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Excellent advice, Decz.
There's stuff at www.skepticalaquarist.com in the SetUp folder under "Starting Over" that might be helpful.
There's stuff at www.skepticalaquarist.com in the SetUp folder under "Starting Over" that might be helpful.
Thanks WetmanNY
I really want to point out that it is crucial to keep everything wet. That is why I suggest putting the nylon stocking/baggie of gravel, and the plants/deco's etc in the bin with the fish.
If anything dries out, so does the beneficial bacteria, and you'll risk having to cycle all over again.
Which especially goes for the filter sponge/cartridge, let it float in the bin with the fish if you don't plan on keeping the filter running in the bin.... (or even another bowl/bucket of aquarium water).
Good luck!
I really want to point out that it is crucial to keep everything wet. That is why I suggest putting the nylon stocking/baggie of gravel, and the plants/deco's etc in the bin with the fish.
If anything dries out, so does the beneficial bacteria, and you'll risk having to cycle all over again.
Which especially goes for the filter sponge/cartridge, let it float in the bin with the fish if you don't plan on keeping the filter running in the bin.... (or even another bowl/bucket of aquarium water).
Good luck!