Fish in substrate change

HI guys,

Anybody done a substrate change from gravel to sand and leaving the fish in the tank whilst doing so?
I'm wanting to do it this weekend and I only have a small 5gal bucket that I could put the fish in if I took them out.
My tank is 50gal stocked with
10x neon tetra
4x Platy
1x Dwarf Gourami
1x Hoplo
2x Dwarf neon rainbow fish
1x BN Pleco
6x Corydoras

What's the best way to tackle this?
Obviously filter off whilst I put the sand in, but I just don't want to end up with some dead fish

 

If that's all you have... I would drop them all in a 5 gallon bucket while you do the substrate change. It will be less stressful for you and the fishes and a lot safer and faster.

I've done three substrate changes for my 20G and I've placed all my fishes in a 5G bucket each time. My last time took the longest so I ran an airline bubbler in it with a small heater and dropped a few drops of prime to help detoxify. That is what I would suggest if it's going to take you more than 1.5 hours.

 

The only problem with the bucket is that it's tall and narrow, maybe I should find one with less depth and more width to it?
I don't think it should take me too long as I'm going to prep all the sand before hand so it's a quick changeover

 

Hey,
I did my substrate change about 3 months ago without removing any fish. My fish weren't to stressed. They actually seemed interested. My corydoras were all over the tank while there was no substrate in there and eating up any food debris.

Catching your fish and taking them out might actually cause more stress.

just make sure you spend a few hours thoroughly washing it, and when you put the sand in, use the bottle method to avoid a huge dust cloud if your tank is filled with water. The bottle method is filling a 2L bottle with the sand, and turning it upside down under water to release the sand. As the sand flows out, water flows into the bottle, this water was the dust cloud that would have been created. Make sure your plug the bottle hole as soon as sand stops flowing out of the bottle or the dust cloud will flow into your water. This method takes awhile, but it is worth it. I was able to change all of my substrate to sand using this method without removing any of my fish. My water was still cloudy, but not as bad as it would be if I just poured the sand in.

When I turned my pump back on, it cleared up my water I'm a few hours.

Let me know how it goes!

-CP

 

Hey,
I did my substrate change about 3 months ago without removing any fish. My fish weren't to stressed. They actually seemed interested. My corydoras were all over the tank while there was no substrate in there and eating up any food debris.

Catching your fish and taking them out might actually cause more stress.

just make sure you spend a few hours thoroughly washing it, and when you put the sand in, use the bottle method to avoid a huge dust cloud if your tank is filled with water. The bottle method is filling a 2L bottle with the sand, and turning it upside down under water to release the sand. As the sand flows out, water flows into the bottle, this water was the dust cloud that would have been created. Make sure your plug the bottle hole as soon as sand stops flowing out of the bottle or the dust cloud will flow into your water. This method takes awhile, but it is worth it. I was able to change all of my substrate to sand using this method without removing any of my fish. My water was still cloudy, but not as bad as it would be if I just poured the sand in.

When I turned my pump back on, it cleared up my water I'm a few hours.

Let me know how it goes!

-CP

This is brilliant, I was hoping to hear from someone who has done it without removing the fish! Did you remove all plants and decorations before starting or just move them from one side to the other?

 

I think actually sticking your hand and scoping in and out, pouring sand in, and re-arranging plants will cause more stress but to each of their own.

 

This is brilliant, I was hoping to hear from someone who has done it without removing the fish! Did you remove all plants and decorations before starting or just move them from one side to the other?

I did remove all plants and decorations before starting. I just added them back afterwards. Your may need weights for your plants to hold them down, my were fine but I have heard some people have trouble keeping their plants down.

I think actually sticking your hand and scoping in and out, pouring sand in, and re-arranging plants will cause more stress but to each of their own.

It probably will cause some stress, but minimal. It really depends on the fish. Some find it interesting like mine.

 

I did remove all plants and decorations before starting. I just added them back afterwards. Your may need weights for your plants to hold them down, my were fine but I have heard some people have trouble keeping their plants down.

Yeah all my plants have weights so I should be ok with that, do you use any sort of fertiliser to help them grow in sand or do they grow just fine? Mine shoot up within a matter of days in gravel

 

You should definitely use some root tabs. It's harder for your plants to get the nutrients they need in the sand.

I recommend the Flourish Tabs. They have done wonders for my plants.

 

Do you just drop these in the tank or bury them in the sand? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to get this right

 

Your bury them in the sand. I think 1 inch from the roots. It will give you exact instructions on burying them on the package.

I don't mind answering any questions you have

 

I'll make sure to get some of them tomorrow as well I'm going to try using Sealey shot blasting grit, if I have any troubles I'll take it straight back out again

 

Sounds good!

 

I'll make sure to get some of them tomorrow as well I'm going to try using Sealey shot blasting grit, if I have any troubles I'll take it straight back out again

Send me a photo when your finished! I'm sure it will look amazing!

 

I've done it both ways. My suggestion is work on on side while the fish swim to the other. Then do the 2nd side so they swim away again. Be careful with Cory fish, sometimes they get too curious and can get buried by mistake.

 

I've done it both ways. My suggestion is work on on side while the fish swim to the other. Then do the 2nd side so they swim away again. Be careful with Cory fish, sometimes they get too curious and can get buried by mistake.

Good suggestion, I totally agree.

 

Send me a photo when your finished! I'm sure it will look amazing!

I will do! I'm on with it this afternoon so will get a picture up tonight! Do I need to leave the sand to dry after washing it? I've got most of the dust out and that horrible filmy stuff, and drained as much water as I could out.

 

I've done it both ways. My suggestion is work on on side while the fish swim to the other. Then do the 2nd side so they swim away again. Be careful with Cory fish, sometimes they get too curious and can get buried by mistake.

Yeah this is how I was thinking of doing it I'll make sure to be extra careful lol, Corys are loopy!

 

I will do! I'm on with it this afternoon so will get a picture up tonight! Do I need to leave the sand to dry after washing it? I've got most of the dust out and that horrible filmy stuff, and drained as much water as I could out.

No, you can put it right into your tank. No need for it to dry.

 

Yeah I actually found it easier keeping the sand wet when putting it in, it looks so much better now ! Had a bit of a dust cloud unfortunately so just waiting for that to clear and will post a before and after

 

Question.... wouldn't changing the substrate out potentially cause a spike in the cycle? I would think you might want to keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels over the next weeks...
Just a thought and question...

 

Question.... wouldn't changing the substrate out potentially cause a spike in the cycle? I would think you might want to keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels over the next weeks...
Just a thought and question...

Most of the BB is in the filter and not in the substrate, so it shouldn't be a big problem, although it's always a good idea to keep an eye on parameters.

 

Yeah I actually found it easier keeping the sand wet when putting it in, it looks so much better now ! Had a bit of a dust cloud unfortunately so just waiting for that to clear and will post a before and after

Cool, can't wait to see them!

 

Here's before

And here's after! Still a bit cloudy but clearing up well looks so much better! Even the darker coloured fish look better! Glad I did this

 

Looks better dark. Nice.

 

Morley24 I'm curious how your substrate change went? I'm thinking of switching from gravel to sand to benefit my SterbaI Corydoras. I don't have a back up tank so I'd either have to keep them in tank or put them in my 5 gallon water change bucket during the process.

 

I did my 55 gallon tank 2/27/17 I took everything out just clean sand good it was cloudy add fish today no pH change no ammonia
all fish are doing good and eating

 

Morley24 I'm curious how your substrate change went? I'm thinking of switching from gravel to sand to benefit my SterbaI Corydoras. I don't have a back up tank so I'd either have to keep them in tank or put them in my 5 gallon water change bucket during the process.

It went really well, I basically just took all decorations out and drained probably 70% of the water.
I left all my fish in the tank whilst I did the change, I just used a Tupperware box to scoop out my old gravel being careful not to scoop up any fish lol.
Once I'd scooped all the gravel out I vacuumed out all the rubbish that was left on the bottom of the glass.
Washed my sand as best I could then used the same Tupperware box to lower the sand to the bottom of the tank and slowly tipped it out, again being careful to not bury any fish.
Once I was all done I put all decorations back in, refilled the tank and by this time most of the floating particles had settled and I scooped out what had floated to the top.
Fired the filter back up, the tank was cloudy but had cleared within 12 hours. Not lost any fish during or after the process so I would say all went well

 

Morley24 I'm curious how your substrate change went? I'm thinking of switching from gravel to sand to benefit my SterbaI Corydoras. I don't have a back up tank so I'd either have to keep them in tank or put them in my 5 gallon water change bucket during the process.

It went really well, I basically just took all decorations out and drained probably 70% of the water.
I left all my fish in the tank whilst I did the change, I just used a Tupperware box to scoop out my old gravel being careful not to scoop up any fish lol.
Once I'd scooped all the gravel out I vacuumed out all the rubbish that was left on the bottom of the glass.
Washed my sand as best I could then used the same Tupperware box to lower the sand to the bottom of the tank and slowly tipped it out, again being careful to not bury any fish.
Once I was all done I put all decorations back in, refilled the tank and by this time most of the floating particles had settled and I scooped out what had floated to the top.
Fired the filter back up, the tank was cloudy but had cleared within 12 hours. Not lost any fish during or after the process so I would say all went well

 

Morley24 I'm curious how your substrate change went? I'm thinking of switching from gravel to sand to benefit my SterbaI Corydoras. I don't have a back up tank so I'd either have to keep them in tank or put them in my 5 gallon water change bucket during the process.

It went really well, I basically just took all decorations out and drained probably 70% of the water.
I left all my fish in the tank whilst I did the change, I just used a Tupperware box to scoop out my old gravel being careful not to scoop up any fish lol.
Once I'd scooped all the gravel out I vacuumed out all the rubbish that was left on the bottom of the glass.
Washed my sand as best I could then used the same Tupperware box to lower the sand to the bottom of the tank and slowly tipped it out, again being careful to not bury any fish.
Once I was all done I put all decorations back in, refilled the tank and by this time most of the floating particles had settled and I scooped out what had floated to the top.
Fired the filter back up, the tank was cloudy but had cleared within 12 hours. Not lost any fish during or after the process so I would say all went well

 

It went really well, I basically just took all decorations out and drained probably 70% of the water.
I left all my fish in the tank whilst I did the change, I just used a Tupperware box to scoop out my old gravel being careful not to scoop up any fish lol.
Once I'd scooped all the gravel out I vacuumed out all the rubbish that was left on the bottom of the glass.
Washed my sand as best I could then used the same Tupperware box to lower the sand to the bottom of the tank and slowly tipped it out, again being careful to not bury any fish.
Once I was all done I put all decorations back in, refilled the tank and by this time most of the floating particles had settled and I scooped out what had floated to the top.
Fired the filter back up, the tank was cloudy but had cleared within 12 hours. Not lost any fish during or after the process so I would say all went well

Thanks for the reply Morley24, I'm glad it went well for you! I'm planning to pick up my sand in the near future here and get to rinsing. Can't say I'm looking forward to that, but it is going to be nice to see my Sterbais dig around in the sand! I hope they love it as much as I think they will. Now I have to decide, black or tan sand. So many decisions!