Switched to sand and guppies died

Stephpartin

Stephpartin

AC Members
Sep 15, 2016
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Hello everyone:) I just switched from white gravel to black sand and now my guppies are swimming in one place at the top huddled together. They did eat a little bit about 15 minutes ago. My german rams are all over the place including the top which is very strange for them. Should I be worried? Thanks:))I put the fish in a five gallon bucket with a heater, hydro sponge and plant when I was switching the substrate. One guppy down and one in bad shape. 4 all together so now 3:((( I have changed the water twice already. 30 percent the first time and 30 the 40 the second time. The healthy guppies are now moving about the tank a bit. UPDATE: 3 out of the four male guppies died last night. There is one One survivor from a previous batch. He is just a tiny little thing. My two balloon rams are still doing well but I can't seem to find my otto. He was fine a few hours ago:) Is there anything else I should be doing? Thanks so much:)

20 gal high
fluval c4 power filter
hydro sponge
PH 7.8, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0, Nitrate 10
 
Check your water parameters, what are they at? .
 
How did you remove the old gravel? Did you rinse the new? What was done with the filtration during the transition? How long had you had them before this?
 
OrionGirl said:
How did you remove the old gravel? Did you rinse the new? What was done with the filtration during the transition? How long had you had them before this?
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Hello:)) Thank you so much for responding...I set up a 5 gallon bucket with a heater and a hydro sponge for oxygen and a large plant. I put the fish in the bucket while I switched out the gravel. I drained all but a quarter of the water in the tank, scooped up gravel with new dustpan, poured sand in, filled with water and water conditioner. Let it set for 30 minutes until all sand had sunk. My filter parts and decorations were soaking in a bucket of tank water while I made the change. I then put all decorations and filter media back. Put the fish back in. I had the guppies for 6 months.
 
Were your water parameters before and after the switch the same? I'm wondering if there was a drastic parameter change that did those fish in.
 
Was the bucket a fish only item or sometimes used for other things?
 
OrionGirl said:
How deep was the gravel? New dustpan? What kind of sand, and did you rinse it?
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HELLO:) The gravel was about an inch deep. I bought a NEW dustpan so that I would not get anything in the tank that isn't supposed to be there. I can't remember the exact brand of sand (I'm out of town) but I did rinse it and it is non silica based. Thanks:)))
 
FreshyFresh said:
Were your water parameters before and after the switch the same? I'm wondering if there was a drastic parameter change that did those fish in.
Click to expand...
Hello and thank you for responding:) I used an API master test kit and the parameters were about the same as before. I believe the nitrates were a bit higher but that is it. The kit I have tests for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and PH.
 
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