Making the switch from gravel to fluorite

[Blinky]

Hi all,
I mentioned before that my plastic plants are history, I'm about to dive into plants. I want to switch from standard gravel (pea-sized, what I think of as 'regular old gravel') to fluorite.

Someone suggested I ask for help before switching the substrate, and the day has arrived at last - tomorrow we're heading out to get fluorite, and Sunday I'll be making the big switch.

Here's what I was planning to do, maybe this can be a starting point - someone let me know if I'm veering off in the wrong direction here.

1. Wash the fluorite and any new decorations (get things ready in other words)
2. Remove the fish to a large bucket, reserve as much water as possible in a separate container
3. Remove the decorations (plastic plants/driftwood)
4. Remove the old gravel to a bucket/Rubbermaid container
5. Put the (rinsed) fluorite into the 1/2 full tank
6. Run filters (diatom filter if I need to) to clear the water of debris
7. Replace the reserved old water and add new dechlorinated water to top up
8. Net the fish out of the bucket and put them into their snazzy new home

Should I wait a while to get plants, or can I bring some home at the same time and plant the tank the same day I replace the substrate?

Thanks for your help!

 

[djlen]

My opinion, starting from the bottom of the list. Plant the tank as soon as possible after the overhaul.
Get as much water out of the tank and into buckets as possible and then drain the tank and pull the old substrate. There should be zero substrate and about 1/2" of mucky, brown water left in the tank This is liquid gold. It is loaded with good bacteria. Keep it.
Now you have a choice. You can sprinkle a handful of peat moss over the water and then start laying in the Flourite over it. It will help mature the tank faster for you.
Or you can just lay in the Flourite and re-fill. If you have the peat moss it's a good idea to use some, but since it's an established tank, it's not as necessary as in a new set up.
After laying in and arranging the Flourite, take a bowl, and set it on the substrate. Refill the tank by filling the bowl with water and letting it over flow the bowl and into the tank itself. This will create as little disturbance as possible, and greatly decrease the inevitable clouding that Flourite produces. If you dump the Flourite into a 1/2 filled tank, you will have something that looks like coffee and takes a few days to clear, with many filter changes needed to do it. Trust me on this.....I've worked with the material for years and made every possible mistake while doing so.
Start the refilling process of slowly refilling the tank with either tap or old tank water.
Either way will work....just try to refill gently to cut down on clouding. If you've saved 1/2 of the tank's original water this process will act as a 50% water change and your fish will be happy.
When you've got the tank almost full of water that is hopefully within a few degrees of the bucket(s) containing the fish, pour a little of the tank water into the buckets and let it sit, then a little more and so forth. This will gradually get the fish accustomed to their new water and cut down on any shock when they go back into the tank.
That's the way I would do it. I would plant the tank before re-introducing the fish. They will help clean the water and comfort the fish.
If all goes right, you will end up with a somewhat dusty looking water table, that will clear over night.

Len

 

[Blinky]

Thanks so much!
I didn't know flourite would cloud the water that much, I'm glad to know. I also would have removed any gunk I found in the water, not knowing it was something really useful! I'm guessing that it wouldn't hurt to squeeze out the filter sponges in tank water and add this to the stuff I leave on the bottom of the tank.
I do have some peat (Fluval peat pellets), and I was planning to place it on the bottom as you suggested, and then pour the flourite on top.
I'll try to get some of the plants when I get the fluorite. I've been out and about, checking out several LFSs, and it looks like I'll be getting plants from a few different stores. I'll try to get as much as I can from the Big Al's that has the flourite when I'm there today.
Cross your fingers for me, here goes nothing!

 

[jujubee]

I will be using flourite soon in my tank and I have a question about doing water changes. With the gravel I just use a gravel vac and do water changes while also cleaning the gravel. How should this be done with flourite? Still use the gravel vac to clean out the flourite or is there another way? I am worried about disturbing the flourite substrate and making the water all cloudy.

 

[djlen]

You don't need a lot of peat. I have set up 55 gal. tanks and larger, using only a handful, sprinkled lightly over the bottom before adding substrate on top.

Flourite will settle over time, with the dust sifting down into the substrate, and should cause little clouding as it settles.
Just a light gravel vaccing of the surface of the substrate is all that is necessary in most cases. You just want to get up the lose material. Deep gravel vaccing is not necessary in a healthy tank. Much of that will also work it's way down into the substrate and provide nutrients for the plants.

Len