Changing Half My Substrate To Sand?

I have a tank with gravel substrate. I really want some kuhlI loaches but they can only live in sand as I have researched. Should I change all my substrate to sand or change half of it to sand? I would really like some kuhlI loaches but i'm not sure which I should do for them. Also how would I proceed in doing so if I don't have a quarantine tank for my DG in the meantime as I do the swap of switching my substrate. Should I really perform this switch I'm afraid it'll mess up my tank but I really want my kuhlI loaches what should I do?

 

You can do it fish-in.
Slowly so as not to stress them out.

Take the gravel out, get a plastic drink bottle and cut the bottom off. Turn it neck-down where you want to start putting your sand, and use a jug to pour sand into the end you cut off. Use the bottle as a funnel to pour the sand in to your tank.

 

You can do it fish-in.
Slowly so as not to stress them out.

Take the gravel out, get a plastic drink bottle and cut the bottom off. Turn it neck-down where you want to start putting your sand, and use a jug to pour sand into the end you cut off. Use the bottle as a funnel to pour the sand in to your tank.

Should I replace all my gravel since it has good bacteria in it or just replace half of it and leave half?

 

Alternatively, you could just put the DG in a bucket and do the same, so the fish aren't in the tank while you make the switch.

This would depend on how big your tank is and how long it will take you to make the switch.

Depends on the look you're going for, but you could always do half one day then the other half in a couple weeks.

Most of your good bacteria are in your filter.

 

Alternatively, you could just put the DG in a bucket and do the same, so the fish aren't in the tank while you make the switch.

This would depend on how big your tank is and how long it will take you to make the switch.

Depends on the look you're going for, but you could always do half one day then the other half in a couple weeks.

Most of your good bacteria are in your filter.

I have a 20 gallon high. I don't want to replace all my gravel because won't the sand eventually start to develop gas pockets. I just want a place my kuhlI loaches can dig and not get hurt.

 

So you definitely want to leave half your tank as gravel, permanently?

In that case I'd just take out what you don't want in one go, make the switch, and call it good.

Make sure you don't fill your sand above about an inch thick, and when you do your water changes just run your fingers through it keep it aired out.

 

So you definitely want to leave half your tank as gravel, permanently?

In that case I'd just take out what you don't want in one go, make the switch, and call it good.

Make sure you don't fill your sand above about an inch thick, and when you do your water changes just run your fingers through it keep it aired out.

I don't mind either I'll switch the whole tank substrate or leave half just want what's best for the tank. Don't mind the look I personally think sand would look much better.

 

I switched from like, pebbles (not quite small enough to be gravel) to sand a few weeks back. I'd have loved to have done a mix but the turtle would just kick it everywhere.

I do prefer the sand over gravel.

Next fish-spend will be to get black sand for my betta tanks, even though they already have black gravel.

Since you're looking at switching out anyway, take a quick look at the Google s for "aquascape gravel and sand".
You can do some super awesome stuff with a mix of substrates.

If you decide to go all sand, I would do half one week and half a few weeks later.

 

I switched from like, pebbles (not quite small enough to be gravel) to sand a few weeks back. I'd have loved to have done a mix but the turtle would just kick it everywhere.

I do prefer the sand over gravel.

Next fish-spend will be to get black sand for my betta tanks, even though they already have black gravel.

Since you're looking at switching out anyway, take a quick look at the Google s for "aquascape gravel and sand".
You can do some super awesome stuff with a mix of substrates.

If you decide to go all sand, I would do half one week and half a few weeks later.

All right I'll take a look and come back to ask you.

 

I just swapped out my substrate, fish in. Putting the sand in was super simple!! I just used a 2 liter pop bottle (or whatever size plasric bottle would fit into your tank) I filled the bottle with sand (I used black sand blasting sand), put the bottle into the tank upright and let it fill with water, then tip the bottle over and pour the sand right out on the bottom. When all of the sand is poured out, take the bottle of water and dump it out.

I didn't even have to wash the sand - the light stuff and debris just stays in the bottle. There was very little cloudiness in the water, and most of that actually stirred up when I took out the old substrate. My filters cleared that up within a day. My fish really seem to love the sand, and seemed more curious about the process than stressed.

Here's a picture of my tank a day after I finished:



There are lots of youtube videos that show the process also.

 

I just swapped out my substrate, fish in. Putting the sand in was super simple!! I just used a 2 liter pop bottle (or whatever size plasric bottle would fit into your tank) I filled the bottle with sand (I used black sand blasting sand), put the bottle into the tank upright and let it fill with water, then tip the bottle over and pour the sand right out on the bottom. When all of the sand is poured out, take the bottle of water and dump it out.

I didn't even have to wash the sand - the light stuff and debris just stays in the bottle. There was very little cloudiness in the water, and most of that actually stirred up when I took out the old substrate. My filters cleared that up within a day. My fish really seem to love the sand, and seemed more curious about the process than stressed.

Here's a picture of my tank a day after I finished:



There are lots of youtube videos that show the process also.

That looks amazing that's what I want to really do with my tank

 

Thank you - it was pretty simple switching things out - I was worried that it would bother the fish but had no issues. I had pink and blue gravel before, so just scooped 1/2 out and replaced it then waited about week and did the other half.