quick question

[babydragons]

I am not happy with the plant growth in the tank. I want to switch to flourite mixed with eco complete. If I take all the plants and shrimp out and house them in a bucket for a few hours will I be able to safely put them back in the tank tonight? I will be leaving a layer of old substrate at the bottom to try to help with the bacteria.

[2Shi]

Throw a filter in the temporary house that you will be keeping the fish and shrimp. Also, use a desk lamp or something over the temporary holding area to keep the water from becoming too cold.

Keeping a layer of your old substrate is a good idea. However, if you want to do a 100% substrate change then you can stick some of the old gravel in pantyhose and keep that in the tank for a few days.

[babydragons]

Thanks for the info. The old substrate is sand so its no big deal if it stays in there. Atleast not to me. And good idea about the lamp and filter. Didn't think of that. I know I will lose some of my baby shrimp but I have so many that I can kinda live with that.

[acitydweller]

i'd toss in an airstone and heater for safety measure to keep things more comfortable during the transition. have you been using fertilizer to feed your plants?

[danielt]

You will have a Nitrite spike anyway. You should prepare for a longer term to keep your fish until things settle. Bacteria will colonize the fresh substrate in the same order as with cycling. First the bacteria that turns Ammonia into Nitrite will grow on the substrate than the Nitrite to Nitrate ones. You will have a Nitrite spike because of this. The pantyhose is just a sexy idea to keep the old medium but will not cover for this.

Any change in the quantity of bacteria will do this. The method of replacing the substrate is the other way around. You put the new substrate in so it gets colonized. After a month or so you replace it.

TL;DR

Add bacteria not subtract bacteria and you should be ok

[bikinibottom]

What about the plant growth are you unhappy about? While I do think you should change the substrate if it is all sand, I'm not sure that changing the substrate alone will solve your problem.

[laqu]

seachem stability is great, instant stabiltiy ... just saying... as is prime

-- okay beat on me now... i know ... i know... but it's WAY easier ...

[babydragons]

I originally started the tank with something my boyfriends brother had gotten. For the life of me I can't remember what it was. I definately planned on adding more of it to the tank.

@bikinibottom - one of the biggest problems with the plant growth is some plants have grown while most have not. You are right I have an all sand bottom. Someone (my boyfriend) talked me into it when I knew I should have gotten something different. Another problem is the light. No matter how much I read about the PAR its so fricking confusing to me that I don't think its right. But I figured start with one issue at a time right?

[babydragons]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

i'd toss in an airstone and heater for safety measure to keep things more comfortable during the transition. have you been using fertilizer to feed your plants?

Will do with the airstone and heater. Never got to do this last night as i went out for the substrate pretty late. And I have been using ferts. I purchased liquid ferts, macros and micros, from one of the members here. I've been using them for almost a month. My ludwigia is still the same size as well as my indian sword. And my sunset crypt just hasnt grown any new leaves as well as this other unknown plant. So I figured I better start changing something

[laqu]

i got better growth soon as i added DIY CO2 ... warning it's a PAIN IN THE .....

if i had the $$ i'd go paintball...

[babydragons]

I really don't want to try co2 yet. i want to try fixing the problem before i have to spend more money