Help! Want to change gravel

So I have a problem. Well, technically just for looks.. I wanted to change my gravel in my tank to black.. But I don’t know when.. I’m getting black gravel tomorrow and I just changed my water about 3 days ago. Do I change my water again and replace my gravel in my tank? Or wait a week or 2 To change it..?

 

There is no benefit to waiting to do water changes. They won't hurt anything. Just make sure to rinse the new gravel before you add it.

 

There is no benefit to waiting to do water changes. They won't hurt anything. Just make sure to rinse the new gravel before you add it.

Thanks! I’m going to do it tomorrow.

 

So I have a problem. Well, technically just for looks.. I wanted to change my gravel in my tank to black.. But I don’t know when.. I’m getting black gravel tomorrow and I just changed my water about 3 days ago. Do I change my water again and replace my gravel in my tank? Or wait a week or 2 To change it..?

Your profile says you don’t know about the nitrogen cycle. How long has your tank been running?

 

There is no benefit to waiting to do water changes. They won't hurt anything. Just make sure to rinse the new gravel before you add it.

By the way, how do I change it? Do I completely remove the plants and decorations? Even the fish to completely remove the gravel?

Your profile says you don’t know about the nitrogen cycle. How long has your tank been running?

About 7 months now.

 

About 7 months now.

So your tank’s cycled?

 

So your tank’s cycled?

Pretty much.

 

By the way, how do I change it? Do I completely remove the plants and decorations? Even the fish to completely remove the gravel?

It depends on how you plan to scoop it out. If it's a relatively small tank, I would just drop the water level to half way, take out the decorations, scoop out the old gravel, and then lower the new, rinsed gravel into the tank, put the decorations back in, then refill like a normal water change.

If it's a large tank, I would net out the fish and put them in a temporary bucket, drain the tank completely, remove all decorations, scoop out the old gravel, put in the new rinsed gravel, put the decorations back in, refill, and re-acclimate your fish.

Whatever works for you and your tank.

 

It depends on how you plan to scoop it out. If it's a relatively small tank, I would just drop the water level to half way, take out the decorations, scoop out the old gravel, and then lower the new, rinsed gravel into the tank, put the decorations back in, then refill like a normal water change.

If it's a large tank, I would net out the fish and put them in a temporary bucket, drain the tank completely, remove all decorations, scoop out the old gravel, put in the new rinsed gravel, put the decorations back in, refill, and re-acclimate your fish.

Whatever works for you and your tank.

Okay. Thanks! I have a large tank anyways. That’s why I was questioning it.

 

I changed the gravel in my 55 gallons without removing the fish. I lowered the water to about 1 third. I got a plastic cup, or glass, i dont remember, and just scooped it out a little at a time. Then I filled the water to 2 thirds so I could turn the filters back on, and let them run for a while to catch the debris. rinsed out the gravel , then put it in the tank. and filled the water back up.