changing substrate

[davemack]

I'm thinking of changing my substrate,and wondering what the best way is to do this.Any help on this would be great.

[Marty]

I would recommend having a number of buckets/containers handy, and it isn't going to be fun. 

You're going to want to take some tank water and fill enough buckets to house your fish and enough water to at least refill a third of your tank.  Then take something like a sturdy net or small container and start scooping out your old gravel.  I would recommend rinsing it out in a sieve, otherwise it will likely smell.

After you've emptied out the gravel, you're likely going to have a bunch of dirty water that you'll have to drain.  My suggestion would be to rinse out your new substrate and then put it in the tank, replace the old water that you have in buckets, and then fill the difference with dechlorinated water.  You may also want to purchase some live bacteria to replace the bacteria that was growing on your old substrate.

[djlamonica]

I just did this three times in the last three weeks,  I had extra tanks so I just put all the fish in those then I emptied the water scooped out the sand/clown puke gravel replaced it with clean new substrate filled it back up primed put the fish back in.  The OPs way is definatly the safer but I haven't noticed any problems as of yet.

[danielratti]

Use a dustpan it works pretty well for scooping stuff out.

[Regalblue]

Yep...  a dollar store dust pan

I've used nets before,  but the dustpan is my #1 for substrate removal

[Marty]

Another good scooper are those specimen containers that hang on the lip of the tank.

[davemack]

Thanks everyone

[RichE]

if not re-using the substrate use a shop-vac after draining the tank. Makes it quick and easy

[djlamonica]

Hmm that's a good idea

[Super Turtleman]

I just use a 1" hose for siphoning out sand (and water obviously) into a bucket or tub. Works like a charm. If you're doing gravel the dustpan sounds like a good idea.

[SKISWETPETS]

I just use a 1" hose for siphoning out sand (and water obviously) into a bucket or tub. Works like a charm. If you're doing gravel the dustpan sounds like a good idea.

I have used the syphon hose myself for gravel, it works well also especially on smaller tanks. I wouldn't want to do a 6ft tank though.

[davemack]

It's a 90 gallon with a gravel substrate. Want sand. What type is the best to use?

[linuxrulesusa]

As far as sand, if you're OK with a lighter color, I'd go for pool filter sand - ranges from a tan to a white, depending on the brand and the store.  Usually $7-10 for a 50# bag.  I like the stuff from Leslie's Pool Supply as you hardly have to rinse it and it has nice large grains. 

If you want dark e.g. black the Petco brand is good and shouldn't get sucked into your filter but that gets expensive (around $17 for 20#).  You can use blasting sand but it has to be rinsed a lot. 

[davemack]

Leaning more toward the white in color. I have a peacock and hap tank with a few mubuna and think it would look really good. Leslies is in canton right? The whole project seems like it's going to be a pain. i dont have another tank and have like 26 fish in the tank.

[Regalblue]

I got my pool filter sand from Leslie's on Wayne rd, across from Westland mall