Changing Substrate - help...

[Malibu]

I want to change the substrate in my tropical tank. I don't like the color or the sand, and it's not got the right feel to it, if you know what I mean. It's river-rock colored (multi browns, reds, black, beige). I just don't feel it compliments the vibrancy of the tropicals I have in there. I want to go with more of a black with a little white thrown in.

I know I can't just toss new substrate in. Can I cure the rock in a tub of water for like a month or two? Should I toss in an apple snail or anything? I would definitely add a plant or two to help start the bacteria. Does it need to be filtered even if I don't put a snail in? Should it be in the light, or in dark? I've only ever cycled tanks, not rocks separately...

I want to get this started in the next couple of weeks, so any feedback would be helpful.

[bignose]

If you have a another tank you could transfer the livestock into that and redo the whole tank.

[Myka]

Ya, that's what I would do too.

[Malibu]

I had thought about doing that, but I can't afford a new tank. I like the flexibility with a larger tank (mine's 50 gal), but it was a used tank, and I just went with the liverock it came with.

I would absolutely LOVE to have a new tank to re-do it all..

I lieu of a new tank, do you think the bucket idea will work?

[Myka]

This is a freshwater tank right? There is no live rock in a freshwater tank. There is gravel/sand, but it's not live in the same way as live rock/sand in a saltwater tank.

If you can use a siphon hose to suck out 1/4 of the old sand per week, and replace it each week with 1/4 of the new substrate you can change it out like that without too much stress on the inhabitants.

[Malibu]

Hmmm... that could work... I'll just have to work out a system so the old stuff doesn't get too mixed in with the new or it will defeat the purpose...

[bignose]

I did the same thing with my 55G tank. I removed half of the old gravel and piled the new gravel on one side of the tank. When all the old gravel was removed a couple of days later I spread out the new gravel.

Just a heads up if you have any algae problems with your new white gravel it will look slime green in color. I did the exact same thing your doing and I eventually removed the gravel.