Dozey

OK, I’ve got my pantyhose and I’m planning the gravel change Saturday Dec. 13th. I have 3 10g pails. So my plan is fill them with tank water and supply air stones to each to keep plants, fish and filter media in them.

Fill my new pantyhose with old gravel and add them to the buckets. Do a quick rinse of the tank and fill with the new gravel. Returning the fish, media, décor and pantyhose to the tank.

I hope the whole process will only take about two hours. So two questions…

Am I forgetting anything? And, how long will the new gravel take to seed before I remove my pantyhose?

Thanks everyone, I know your advise will be great.

CHoffman

I was thinking. and your right. 2 weeks would be better because that's how long they suggest you put a spare filter in a established tank to get seeded..Gravel might be different but 2 weeks is sounding good to me..You'll know too when all your levels are stable. Good Luck Dozey!!!..

Dozey

Thanks Choffman,

Is there anything I'm forgetting? Stress Coat maybe for netting the fish twice in such a short period?

soldieroffortune1974

The new gravel will seed in about 1 to 2 weeks,or quicker.You can increase the aeration and leave lights on for extended periods,you could cut the seeding time down to a few days.The more oxygen and light provided will induce faster growth of the bacteria. If you place used filter material in the filter,along with the gravel in the pantyhose;you can cycle a new aquarium virtually overnight.

Dozey

Thanks SOF, I will plan on leaving the gravel for about two weeks. But again this in not a new tank. Same tank, same filter, same decor just new gravel.

Dozey

Wow, I have forgotten something. How should I rinse the new gravel? Can I use tap water? I don’t have a python, should I use my kitchen strainer and dunk it in tank water and tell my family that the spaghetti tastes like fish because I added fish extract to it?

CHoffman

I had a gallon bucket left over from some ice cream..I washed it really good then I filled it half way full of gravel..I turned the water on and let it run in the bucket..I took my hands and kinda lifted the gravel up and "tossed it"..Like you would a salad..lol..With the water still running..I was cleaning used gravel so i could see all he gunk comming to the top and spilling over the top of the bucket. Then I strained it to get all the water out of it. It took me several times to get all the gravel rinsed..but it worked like a charm.

soldieroffortune1974

A method I use is simple.
one 5 gallon bucket and a smaller pail (child's beach pail) w/handle.
Make a thousand small holes in the child's pail (strainer) with a drill.
Fill the 5 gallon bucket with water.
Fill the pail (strainer) 3/4 with gravel.
place pail in water inside 5 gallon bucket.
use the handle to 'twist' the gravel back and forth (like agitating in a washing machine) as fast as you can.
have a hose supply clean water to bucket.The overflow of water will constantly remove dirty water and supply clean freshwater until completed.

This will spin the gravel around inside the pail,the dirt/debris will come out in the agitation,leaving clean gravel when you pull the pail out of the bucket.keep agitating until water is clear.

Lucy

Good idea SOF.
In a pinch, I've poked holes a disposable aluminum baking pan.
I couldn't stomach the thought of using my speghetti strainer for used gravel.

Dozey

OH sure, now that I've got my pantyhose I've got to go out and get a kid's beach pail. That shouldn't be too hard to find in Canada in December with a foot of snow on the ground. Gees I sure hope I don't run into any of my buddies in the mall as I stroll around with my pantyhose and beach pail. I don't have young children and fishlips doesn't wear pantyhose. This could get me barred from the pool-hall.

But a good idea SOF, thanks.

Lucy

capekate

too funny! If you cant find a beach pail in Canada in the winter.. you can always go to the store and pick up a small strainer, they are pretty cheap and you can always keep it with your aquarium supplies for the next time you may need it. Thats what I use and it works great.

aecw

Hardware or paint stores have cheap plastic buckets

Dozey

But do they come with the little plastic shovel. I want the little plastic shovel. It might come in handy to dig my car out of the SNOW.

jdhef

Just put the stocking over your head, and know one will know it's you...until the police arrive anyway!

Dozey

Yeah going to jail with my panthose and little plastic bucket would go over really well with the other imates I'm sure.

Lucy

CHoffman

What about your little shovel..You can't forget to take that with you.

Dozey

Well that would just get me beat up.

jdhef

They won't let him have a shovel in prision, he may tunnel his way out.

CHoffman

Just came across this in my email..lol...how fitting.

Attached Images

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The Fish Head

Jdhef, look at Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, it took him 20 years with his little rock tool, but he got his way out. Sure our buddy Dozey can do the same.

jdhef

Yes, but he'll need to get a Rita Hayworth poster and the Mrs may get jealous.

The Fish Head

lol good point

Dozey

I'm noticing a trend that my posts seem to end totally off topic. Is it just me?

soldieroffortune1974

No,it's more than likely everyone else...........err maybe not..........at the risk of offending you,it could be you..........plus everyone else (except me)...........maybe

Dozey