js Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Hi there My tank currently has very large stones/pebbles and I want to change it over for smaller gravel so it will be easier for my plants to grow (and also tonight I came home and found one of my platies stuck between them and the glass - I thought she was dead but when I went to pick her out she swam away), so that has totally convinced me to put smaller gravel in. Can I do this with the fish still in the tank? I will have to lift out all driftwood and plants, but hopefully putting the new gravel in will be okay? Have neons, guppies, platys, bristlenose and sterbai - 60 x 30 x 30 tank. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Hi there My tank currently has very large stones/pebbles and I want to change it over for smaller gravel so it will be easier for my plants to grow (and also tonight I came home and found one of my platies stuck between them and the glass - I thought she was dead but when I went to pick her out she swam away), so that has totally convinced me to put smaller gravel in. Can I do this with the fish still in the tank? I will have to lift out all driftwood and plants, but hopefully putting the new gravel in will be okay? Have neons, guppies, platys, bristlenose and sterbai - 60 x 30 x 30 tank. Thanks The big problem is all the much that will get stirred up removing the old gravel and dust from the new gravel. You can scoop out the gravel if you want and then very gently set the new gravel in(Like in bags or something opened once it's at the bottom) But I think you'd be better off removing the fish and as much water as practical and putting them in a big bucket or another tank while you do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js Posted September 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 Thanks for that. I didn't think of putting them in a bucket while I did it. Sounds like a major task, so hope it will be worth it when I'm finished. Will thoroughly wash the gravel first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted September 12, 2009 Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 Yep washing will save you some time. Its actually quite an easy job to do, you dont even have to remove all the old gravel if you dont want to, you can leave half of it in, and put some new stuff on top - less work removing the old stuff, less $ buying new stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron11 Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 I did this with two tanks only took me an hour ! when i brought new gravel just took out the fish and plants, did a good gravel clean and scooped it out with ice cream container and put new sutff it and its worth it when you put nice gravel in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Note: When removing substrate from a fish tank use a scoop. Don't use your hand and drag it up the side! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 The big problem is all the much that will get stirred up Ira, have you made a spelling mistake? Surely not. I'll assume you're conserving the letter l for another word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Ira, have you made a spelling mistake? Surely not. I'll assume you're conserving the letter l for another word Either I'm conserving the top right arm of the letter "k" to be used in a ' or there was some freakish internet problem that corrupted by post...I'll let you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Either I'm conserving the top right arm of the letter "k" to be used in a ' or there was some freakish internet problem that corrupted by post...I'll let you decide. :lol: :lol: I'm putting it down to a freak internet problem 8) Muck or mulch...it's all the same to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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