mr. Clown Loach

i have some ugly blue substarte and i want java moss for the tank but it would look like ugh dumb. so i was thinking to switch to regular gravel but i don't want to mess up my cycle... will ya'll tell me how to change my gravel?

sirdarksol

It shouldn't be much of a problem. You can use filter media from your other aquaria to bolster the nitrifying bacteria in the 10g after you change the substrate. Even better, if you add Java moss, it will carry some nitrifying bacteria with it, as well.

Shawnie

you can take all the current subtrate and put it in a nylon stocking to hang on the back of the inside of the tank...that way its still active ..then put the new subtrate down..but always be prepared in case of a mini cycle

mr. Clown Loach

ok ty the thing is i now need stocking and i don't want to go buy a stocking when i'm a guy... (-.-)

sirdarksol

Heh.
Any nylon or fine plastic mesh will work for this. A trip to a hobby or fabric store may work out.

djbrist

Cartoon bubble: Mr. CL hunking over the stax of nylons at Walmart, wondering if queen size nude hose would do.... sorry just4fun...

mr. Clown Loach

your nice and i don't go to wal-mart that much hopefully i can just use my sister's old dance stockings do you think that would work or would her old sweat maybe kill my fish

djbrist

LOL, luv ya man... BTW, I go to Michaels alot, sure I've seen nylon and polyester mesh there, I believe Sirdarksol has best answer, go to craft store.

sirdarksol

I wouldn't use the dance stockings. The sweat probably wouldn't be a problem, but there's the potential for remnants of makeup, soap residue, and the like, which could kill your fish.

mr. Clown Loach

good point and she said she wouldn't let me use them yay i get to go shopping... not

Dozey

This was the best part of the experience when I changed my blue gravel for natural. As I have a “biker” look I definitely looked out of place in the hosiery department and I really had fun with the sales clerk. So I answered the clerk’s questions without elaborating.

Clerk: “Are these for your wife?”
Me: “No they’re for my fish.”

After an uneasy pause trying to fight back her laughter,
Clerk: “OH, and does your fish have a colour preference?”
Me: “Well no but she is very sensitive to dyes so any pair that is un-dyed would be nice.”

Another pause, a few coughs and a tear running down her check,
Clerk: “And do you know what size your fish wears?”
Me: “Well no but they should be big enough to hold about 30lbs. of gravel.”

So I ended up leaving the store with a six-pack of un-dyed large knee-high pantyhose and a very confused sales clerk who I’m sure still talks about the day a biker came into the store to buy pantyhose for his fish.

All that fun aside I ended up filling two large knee-high pantyhose with my old gravel and laid them in the rear corners of my aquarium with an air stone under each sack to ensure water circulation through the substrate while my new gravel colonized.

pantyhose.JPG

Did it take me the expected hour that I figured it would.

need more buckets.JPG

Well no it didn’t. It was in fact an all day project.

Was it worth it? Well I think so.

naturalgravel.jpg

I left my sexy pantyhose for 6 weeks and never experience any mini-cycle or any other problems. Good luck and keep a straight face buying your pantyhose for optimal shopping amusement.

thumper

this is the best thing i have read in a long time

Chrisson

A very well worth change! And agreed thumper.

mr. Clown Loach

ok now i think i'll just order them lol

agabr123