Amnagrla

I've been really thinking about re-doing my tank. New color scheme mostly.

I have a good amount of gravel in my tank, probably more than I should. It's red and black.

I want to switch to blue....

How would I go about doing this??

(Here's my guess... remove fish, scoop out the gravel, put in new gravel, and put in nylon stockings of the old gravel to help seed the new gravel... how's this sound?)

Shawnie

sounds great!! got pics of the current tank? then take some of the next one? I love the before and afters!! just scoop the fish out into a bucket of tank water...gather the rocks inside the tank with the nylon already submerged, and make sure the new rocks are cleaned...also be ready with the test kit in case of a mini cycle..which may or may not happen depending on how moody the bacteria are ...for the most part, it shouldnt be a big issue...how bigs the tank?

Lucy

I agree with Shawnie, I was going to change out my gravel and that's the advice I recieved here on the forum.

Good luck.

Amnagrla

Thanks so much! It's expensive to re-do everything so I want to do it all slowly. I have pictures and a video I made for school in my signature if you want to see what it looks like now. It's red and black and a giant colluseum in the middle. Very warm feeling.

What I want this time is cool blue with maybe an asian/balanease theme. :-) I'm also trying to think of some good freshwater fish for it. I have just a few mollies left and they are being given to someone. So the only fish I'll have left in the tank are 2 otos. It's sad but a nice new start!! lol (oh yeah, it's a 10 gallon, nothing big. It's the biggest size my dorm would let me have).

LetDiceFly

Just make sure your filter media and anything else going back in stays in some warm tank water so that you don't kill the bacteria. I actually changed out tanks entirely without breaking the cycle.

Lucy

After you make the switch, it would be a good idea to keep a close eye on your water parameters to make sure the cycle wasn't lost.

Amnagrla

I was planning on watching the parameters anyways....

But that's a good idea about the decor in warm water.

Amnagrla

I just changed the gravel today. I went with 3 different 5 lb bags of gravel. Natural rock colors, 3 different sizes. Reminds me of a harbor! :-)

I'm just worried about the fish. I hope I don't get a mini-cycle.