I have a ten gallon tank that currently has some blue standard aqarium gravel. It is freshwater, but I would still like to change the substrate to black sand. So how would I go about that? It is the home to a male betta, 3 cory cats and two ghost shrimp. Would I have to catch them and toss them in a bucket with the tank water and then scrape out all the gravel and add the black sand? Would my tank have to recycle even if I used the same filter and plants/decoration?
Also would it be okay to just get black play-sand and rinse it in a pillow case and then soak it for a week?
Okay, I can get the aqarium sand, but were would I keep my fish for two weeks?
Okay are you sure I don’t have to recylce? I know a lot of people don’t know what they are talking about, but I trust you as you usally give awsome advice. I am going to check around on some various fish forums just in case(:
Ooo I like the idea of having the gravel on the bottom and covering it with sand(: But eventually I might get a khulie loach or two and I think they would be surprised when they went to burrow…
You have to get sand that is aquarium safe. other than that no other sand would work. no play sand either. yes you would have to remove the fish and let your tank recycle for about a 1-3 weeks.
had fish for over 3 years
-20g
-55g fish tanks
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No you will have to get sand that is specifically for aquariums.
had fish for over 3 years
-20g
-55g fish tanks
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Drain everything into a cheap storge container and put the filters and heaters on it too.
Then swap the gravel with sand and add the water, filter and fish back into the tank.
No need to re-cyce the aquarium
BLACK SAND IS AAWWSSOOMMEE! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
had fish for over 3 years
-20g
-55g fish tanks
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Use only aquarium safe sand or play sand that you know is sterile
The gravel in your aquarium has bacteria in it that is needed for the fish. So in order to change over to sand take out 25% of the graveland put sand in its place. Then wait a week and take another 25% out. Ans so on. This allows the bacteria to transfer over to your sand and the fish wont be so stressed because you wont even have to take them out.
(Put sand in a cup and slowly lower it in instead of dumping it.)
Or you could always take out enough gravel that it is hidden beneath the plastic ledge on the bottom of the tank (if you have one) and just slowly put the sand in using a cup. This keeps all the bacteria in the tank, and if you ever decide to use live plants, they can stay rooted in the gravel.
I used this method to turn my aquarium into sand from gravel.
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