I have some gravel in a cycled tank, but I want to replace it with a different colored gravel for a more "natural" look. How can I go about switching out the gravel without losing any beneficial bacteria or harming the tank/fish?
How can I replace gravel with new gravel without losing beneficial bacteria?
2007-09-20 10:38:19 · 7 answers · asked by Chris 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
The simplest way is to use both for a while. Move all the "old" gravel to one side of the tank - use a low piece of plexiglass to keep it in place if necessary. Add the "new" gravel to the other side. You get the benefits from the bacteria in the old gravel while the new gravel is populated. Gradually remove the "old" gravel and move the divider while spreading the "new" gravel out more.
Just make sure to maintain good water flow over the gravel - if anaerobic areas build up, the bacteria will die - Oxygenated water has to flow over/through the gravel.
2007-09-20 10:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Most of your bacteria is truly in your filter, so losing the gravel isn't too big a deal.
There's no need to remove the fish unless they're extremely skittish, or if you're in a big hurry. Generally, netting fish out of their tank is more stressful than maintenance and even decor changes like this.
Just siphon out half the water, vacuuming the old gravel very thoroughly while you do it so that you're not stirring up a lot of nasty gunk when you start removing it. Then use a large cup or sand shovel to get the old gravel out -- something clean without any residue of soap or chemicals on it. Move slowly so you don't slosh the fish around. When you've got the old gravel out, you can put the new gravel in the same way: slowly, scoop by scoop. Make sure it was very thoroughly rinsed before you start this whole process and it shouldn't bother the fish a bit, though it will likely still be a little cloudy.
Good luck! and enjoy your tank's new look. :)
2007-09-20 21:53:34 · answer #2 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So long as you're not replacing all of the contents in your tank, you'll still retain some beneficial bacteria from decorations, your filter, and the water itself. This sort of change, however, may cause your tank to restart its nitrogen so if you have live stock in the tank, be sure to keep an eye on them for signs of stress. You can monitor the water parameters by testing your water whenever in doubt.
I had to change out the gravel in several tanks at work before and this was a concern. We drained about 50% of the water and all of the fish into a bucket before removing the old gravel and replacing it with new. Then it's just a matter of putting the contents of the bucket back into the tank. Just a word of caution: Put a net or cloth over the bucket to prevent any of your fish from jumping to their deaths!
2007-09-20 17:48:02 · answer #3 · answered by Quiet Tempest 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could leave a thin layer of the old gravel underneath the new gravel, and just push the new gravel down around the edges of the tank to hide it completely. Just scoop the gravel out with a fish net and put the new gravel in. Make sure you don't change the filter, or do a water change, for at least 1 month beforehand. The bacteria live in several places, so if you've still got the other cultures in the filter and water intact, you should be okay. You can also add liquid bacteria
supplements to your tank during and after the gravel change.
If you don't mind the odd look, you could also carefully scoop out one side of the gravel and replace it, and then leave it that way for a month or so to allow the bacteria to resettle from the old side to the new side. After a month, carefully remove the rest of the old gravel and replace with more new gravel.
Good luck!
2007-09-20 17:46:55 · answer #4 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I have a hang on the back power filter with bio weels and most of the benificial bacteria is traped up in there. I swiched out my gravel and replaced it with no problems. I tested the water regularly though just to make sure. I figured the amount of benificial bacteria that was in the gravel was worth loosing, and my tank looks a lot better now.
2007-09-20 17:45:54 · answer #5 · answered by Goober 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Reserve some of the existing water from the tank. You can also use a conditioner but they require 24 to 48 hours before any living thing can be returned to the tank.
2007-09-20 17:43:59 · answer #6 · answered by Darla G 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If you have old filter media in your filter that would help it re-grow. Or you can buy some type of bacteria at a pet store (usually refridgerated).
2007-09-20 18:20:52 · answer #7 · answered by Kyle S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋