Switching Substrates - Will Fish Be OK?

DGalt

DGalt

AC Members
Jun 1, 2008
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Connecticut
I'm switching my current substrate (Schultz Aquatic Soil) to ADA Aquasoil.

I'm worried, though, about my fish. There of course is the issue that I'll be removing a large amount of my biological filtration. Also, I've heard that Aquasoil has the tendency to have ammonia spikes during the first couple of weeks.

Unfortunately my quarantine tank is only 6 gallons, and I really have no other place to put the fish I have. Will the fish be alright? Should I at least separate out the fish that are more susceptible to being affected by ammonia (I know all fish are affected, but some aren't some fish more hardy than others?)?

thanks :)
 
You should be ok. Just make sure the fish aren't in the tank when you do the swap:p

also don't worry about loosing any beneficial bacteria, as long as you have appropriate filtration you will have all the beneficial bacteria that you need.
 
I removed my Fluorite and replaced it all with 3M Colorquartz sand with the fish in the tank with no problems. Not sure about the substrate combo that you have though. I think using Prime is suppose to help eliminate some Ammonia
 
If you want to ensure that they'll be ok and have peace of mind about switching, you can even get one of those Home Depot tall paint buckets and put the fish in there temporarily with the heater. Keep your filter media wet while you're switching the substrate out. Seems like it would go a whole lot faster to get the fish out first. The beneficial bacteria that converts your ammonia lives in your filter media, not in your substrate. If you're worried about ammonia spikes, check your water params religiously and be prepared to do a partial water change if you see a spike. I'm not familiar with the substrates so I don't know if that's true or not.
 
Seachem Stability is suppose to be a good product for large water changes
 
pinkertd said:
If you want to ensure that they'll be ok and have peace of mind about switching, you can even get one of those Home Depot tall paint buckets and put the fish in there temporarily with the heater. Keep your filter media wet while you're switching the substrate out. Seems like it would go a whole lot faster to get the fish out first. The beneficial bacteria that converts your ammonia lives in your filter media, not in your substrate. If you're worried about ammonia spikes, check your water params religiously and be prepared to do a partial water change if you see a spike. I'm not familiar with the substrates so I don't know if that's true or not.
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Well I'm definitely going to take the fish out during the transition. I have a 6 gallon tank I can put them all in for a few hours. It's the couple of weeks after I change the substrate that I'm worried about. I can't house all the fish I have in a 6 gallon for a couple weeks, so they have to go back into the 15 gallon with the new substrate.
 
Is that normal for that substrate that fish cannot be in there for a few weeks?
 
Bacteria lives everywhere; even on the glass. I wouldn't worry at all.

Plus if your tank isn't overpopulated, and is well planted, it's likely that most of your ammonia removing creatures are the plants themselves.
 
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