Can Switching From Gravel To Sand Kill Beneficial Bacteria In Decorations?

Can I take decorations out without putting it in tank water and put it back in the tank when I'm done switching from gravel to sand? I'm not planning taking all the water out, so my question is will taking the plants out and leaving it in the air... Will that kill beneficial bacteria?

 

No but here is what you are going to want to do. Take out the decorations, drain the tank, take out gravel. COMPLETELY WASH OUT SAND. Fill it up. Add stuff. Your done

 

The cycle is run by the BB in your filter. So no this won't be a problem.

 

There is a negligible amount of bacteria on decorations, So...Yes, it will kill any bacteria on it. It may take your bio filter about 3 seconds to recover from the loss.

 

Most of your bacteria lives within the filter, so now that shouldn't present any issues. However be sure not to rinse them in untreated tap water.

 

Most of your bacteria is going to be in your filter. What I would suggest doing is putting all the fish and some tank water in a bucket or large container and run the filter in there while changing the substrate. After you're done, put the filter back on the tank and use the water from the bucket when you're filling the tank.

 

If you leave the decorations in, you may not be able to get all gravel out. Also, once you start removing the gravel, you are more than likely to disturb the decorations...depending on what kind.
It's just best to take it all out and do a thorough job of getting all the gravel out.

 

You can, but depending on how decorated it is it might be difficult. I'd leave a few in and just move them around if your doing a fish in substrate change.

 

**Threads merged. Duplicate questions deleted**

 

The plants will not appreciate if they dry out. Why don't you put them in a bucket with old tank water?
I might be one of the few people who think the BB is on every surface.

 

First off, the amount of bacteria and archaea on decorations is minimal. They are certainly there, but not in numbers that do a lot.
On live plants - well they aren't decorations, so the scenario is different. Live plants are part of the tank system. If you are worried, sit them in removed tank water. They shouldn't dry out. Forget the archaea and bb - treat those plants well (unless they are plastic).
But if you have that fragile a filtration system removing decorations would matter, you would be in a perpetual danger zone anyway.

 

Do I have to drain the water?

 

Do I have to drain the water?

I'd recommend it. The new sand will want to mix with any water left in the tank and getting the gravel out could be really messy. It'll be a lot easier without any water.

 

I didn't drain my tank, it's all about how you take out and put back in.
I used a container with a handle, carefully scoop out slowly, when you put back scoop and lower it to the bottom and pour slowly again, I had very no problem doing it this way,
the water will cloud up some but not bad.

Take all the decorations out, they will be in the way.

 

I too changed to sand without draining, it probably depends on how fine the sand is. If it's already wet and washed and you just scoop it in and don't "tip" it until your hand/scoop is almost at the bottom then it won't go flying around too much, but certainly putting everything in a bucket has its advantages too. In my case a toddler trying to help in the bucket would not have been great haha!

 

Hi, I'm not too worried about the decorations but the nitrifyers live on all surfaces in the tank including the gravel surface and depending on how long the tank has been setup will determine how much bacteria lives there. Removing all of the gravel at once can give you a cycle "bump" so be aware of this and test daily for several days and dose prime daily if you see ammonia or nitrites.

I used a dust pan to scoop out gravel. Make sure to rinse the sand well and you should just be able to use a container to gently pour the sand out on the bottom(instead of from the top). Any floating sand can usually just be patted at and it will fall to the bottom.