can you change the rocks for a tropical fish tank?

Question

i have a semi aggressive tropical fish tank. i was wonderin if you can change the rocks. my rocks are becomin colorless and the are starting to disenagrate. i have a molly, a platy, a corydora, a guppy, a angelfish, pink glo fish tetra, and a tetra. so thanx if you answer

can you change the gravel, because i have heard different stories. so please help me. my rocks are turning to sand and clogging up my filter

Answer 1

That is a tropical community tank, not a semi aggressive, by the way :) Angelfish sometimes have a reputation for being aggressive, but they aren't, unless they are spawning and protecting eggs.

Anyway, you can most certainly replace the rocks. Fill your fish bucket with tank water, and put your fish in that. Save some of the tank water. You can leave a few inches of water in the tank.

Take the rocks out with a spoon, a net, your hands, whatever works. Be careful not to scratch the glass. Taking out the gravel will stir up lots of goop, which you can remove with the syphon tube, but you can leave some of it there. Then, rinse the new gravel and put it in.

When you discard the old gravel, you will be getting rid of all the good bacteria that break down the ammonia that fish produce. If you aren't aware of the nitrogen cycle, google it, as it is something you need to know. Many of the bacteria still reside in your filter cartridge, so none of your fish should die, but if you can get your hands on some Bio-Spira - which is the live, good bacteria, it would be worth putting some in your tank. Please note that products like Cycle or Biozyme don't work - they're the dead bacteria and therefore completely useless.

Oh, just a tip regarding your tetras - tetras are schoolers, and need to be in groups of 5 or more to be comfortable. Different types of tetras usually will not school together. Consider getting some more. Same goes for the corydoras - they are also schools and you will see much more activity from them if you have more.

Answer 2

Of course you can change them. It is easiest to remove the rock with the fish in there and let the filter run for a while after to clean up everything you have stirred up. Then rinse your new rock well and put them in there. Be sure to use aquarium gravel and not regular outside rocks. They usually contain limestone of some sort and that is very bad for your fish and their water. I change my fish tank gravel at least once a year because I get bored with it very easily. Just be creative and have fun with it.

Answer 3

Yes you can.

Take out all the fish and put them in a bowl with water that they live in now.

I have used my net to get out all my old rocks. But do whatever suits you best as far as getting them out. Your water will probably be really nasty by the time your done. You can empty it all or just half but you need to read up on how to cycle an aquarium with fish since they will be back in.

Here is more info on cycling. If you do not do this you may loose your fish!

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

http://www.bestfish.com/breakin.html

New rocks need to be cleaned really well before you add them.


-If you choose to leave your fish in the aquarium while you do this be gentile adding the new rocks. If you take the fish out but keep theold water I would let everthing sit for a while before dumping them back in so the filter has time to clean all the stirred up mess.

Answer 4

Yup, with one important exception:

Almost all of the tanks healthy bacteria resides in the gravel if you use an under-gravel filter. Removing it could likely result in the poisoning of all the fish with ammonia. In this case you can still replace it, but it should be done in 3 or 4 portions so as not to interrupt the cycle.

Answer 5

Sure I change my rocks every couple weeks cuz I get bored with em and I have mollys and platys and guppys

Answer 6

I really don't have time to change them right now. Maybe later. Sorry :(

Answer 7

sure can! just keep in mind to wash them off good.