Redecorating tank questions...

[Zeppelin2088]

Planning on using new substrate(sand/gravel), planting a few new plants, and redecorating rocks. How long before I can add my fish back to the tank? Will I need to cycle my tank even if it's already established?


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[verbal]

With cycling it is primarily the filter that matters. If you can keep a little of the original substrate that might help. Lower your feedings and increase your water changes for the next month or so and you should be fine.

 

[Avatar]

It's all about the filter

With cycling it is primarily the filter that matters. If you can keep a little of the original substrate that might help. Lower your feedings and increase your water changes for the next month or so and you should be fine.

+1

Substrate is negligible unless you're using under-gravel filters. Assuming you change some water at the same time, you should be good to go. Forget about "cycling the tank" - you have an established filter which is home to millions of denitrifying bacteria - that is the core and majority of the only "cycle" that really matters. Take care not to clean it too thoroughly lest you slaughter untold legions of your microscopic recyclers.

I regularly empty tanks halfway and completely rebuild them without exporting the fish. Remove hardscape and plants that you need to clean or don't want to keep, let everything settle, siphon out as much of the particulate waste as you can, refill half to most of the way with clean water, re-scape and top it off. Never had an issue, it's simpler and from my perspective less stressful and troublesome than netting everyone and dumping them in buckets.

If you're replacing substrate, going in an entirely different direction with hardscape or are just more comfortable pulling everyone, it might be the right way to go but I've always suction out the substrate and replace it without relocating the fish. Anyway, have fun, it's the next best thing to setting up a new tank.

 

[ezrk]

I regularly empty tanks halfway and completely rebuild them without exporting the fish. Remove hardscape and plants that you need to clean or don't want to keep, let everything settle, siphon out as much of the particulate waste as you can, refill half to most of the way with clean water, re-scape and top it off. Never had an issue, it's simpler and from my perspective less stressful and troublesome than netting everyone and dumping them in buckets.

We do this as well, everytime we need to strip fry actually..., and it isn't a problem. Just take care not to crush fish when put the rocks back.

 

[londonloco]

I rescap my tanks a lot, the only time I've had "issues" is when I totally replaced substrate. I've posted this several times in the past few months, I've been using Seachem Stability the past year and have not had those "issues" since.

 

[Hawkman2000]

I just took everything out of my tank, changed from gravel to sand, and put everything back in. My Ph fluctuated for a couple of weeks,and am dealing with some diatoms, but other than that, no problems for the fish or the plants.

 

[Zeppelin2088]

I'll need to remove the fish since I'm putting in sand. It will take awhile for the sand to settle right? I've never used sand before. I assumed it would be bad on the fish until it settles.


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[ezrk]

I'll need to remove the fish since I'm putting in sand. It will take awhile for the sand to settle right? I've never used sand before. I assumed it would be bad on the fish until it settles.

Rinse the hell out of it first, put it end, partially fill and such out the water a couple/few times. That usually will get it into reasonably shape.

Don't hook up the filters (and make sure to keep them wet) until you put Prime or what not in the water.

 

[mchambers]

Sand? It depends

I'll need to remove the fish since I'm putting in sand. It will take awhile for the sand to settle right? I've never used sand before. I assumed it would be bad on the fish until it settles.


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Pool filter sand doesn't require much, if any, washing. I have just put it in the tank without washing, without any adverse effects.

 

[jonclark96]

+1 on the pool filter sand. I swapped out the gravel for PFS in my 180 without removing the fish. All I did was run an aquaclear powerhead with the polishing attachment for an hour before turning the filters back on and everything was great.

 

[Avatar]

Rinse first

Even "Play Sand" which is about 20% silt and very fine can be added in with fish if you rinse it enough in 5 gallon buckets before you use it. At some point the water finally comes up clear and you're good to go - just turn off the filters before you add it to the tank.

 

[Hawkman2000]

As long as you rinse it first, the only thing you have to worry about is the temperature change putting the fish into shock.

With mine, I rinsed it, boiled it, let it cool down for a while, then dumped it in. Very little clouding. Of course I used construction sand that had been sitting in my friends back yard for about 2 years under a tarp. Hey, you can't beat free.

Like I said earlier though, the only problems I had were some minor Ph fluctuations and a diatom bloom.

Another person on here recently posted a video of himself going through the whole process.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half way with PFS, turn your garden hose on full , point it into the sand and let the bucket over flow. Stir the sand for little bit with your hands while its overflowing and that should get out most if the silt. Pour out the water and dump about half a gallon of sand in about ever 10 minute or so so as not to chill the tank out to much.

 

[Tony]

I regularly dump PFS straight from the bag right into established tanks (did it on my 150 eartheater setup last month). A bit of foam at the top, but very little to no clouding though. A properly sized power filter will clear it up in no time.

I wouldn't do this with other types of sand though as most will cloud.

 

[scientist0724]

When I use PFS, I dump the bag into the tank, fill the tank and stir, let it settle a little, then siphon. Then I would do it a few more times until the water got as clear as I could, the filter overnight. I've not had a problem.

Arlene

 

[Zeppelin2088]

Was a success. No deaths, and tank looks great. Thank you all.


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[Hawkman2000]

PICS!!!