Question about changing substrate

chew · 06-05-2012, 03:56 AM

I'm going to set up my 10g for a planted tank but im putting new substrate in (tired of girlfriends purple gravel). If i change out the substrate will it cause my tank to need to cycle again? And if so is there anything i can do to stop that? Thanks in advance!

LB79 · 06-05-2012, 04:08 AM

Girls and gaudy colors... I know what you mean. Now, I'm not talking about all you girls on this forum that don't have gaudily colored gravel. Ugly brown that you can't see because it's covered in epic greenery is much better.

Your substrate change will be fine as long as you have a mature filter (one that has been running for at least two to three months). The bacteria should be able to consume any ammonia. Just in case, you could take all the sludge you'll find under everything and put it under the new substrate.

Gooberfish · 06-05-2012, 04:16 AM

When I changed my substrate from blue gravel to eco complete, I saved as much of the aquarium water as I could salvage. All rocks, plants, decorations and anything that can have the beneficial bacteria should go in with the new substrate. Then I left town for a week. Came back and everything was alive and no algae booms. Worked for me.

**msawdey** · 06-05-2012, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chew

I'm going to set up my 10g for a planted tank but im putting new substrate in (tired of girlfriends purple gravel). If i change out the substrate will it cause my tank to need to cycle again? And if so is there anything i can do to stop that? Thanks in advance!

Ya.. youll be just fine with an established filter. Especially if you are using a canister

pejerrey · 06-05-2012, 05:13 AM

It's going to be ok. I changed substrates before and rescaped a tank. I had no problems with the cycle. You will be fine as long as its not an active substrate that will leach ammonia like ADA.

Thanks for getting rid of that lame gravel, but don't blame it on your gf! we know it was your choice! Lol! (joke)

**OVT** · 06-05-2012, 01:21 PM

What's wrong with purple gravel? I mix it with coated green, add a bit of pink and no visitor to my house failed to comment on my taste.

Anyways, keep the filter, re-use the water and off you go.
Do check water quality for several days just to make sure.

Have fun.

roadmaster · 06-05-2012, 03:05 PM

Would leave some mulm in the bottom of the tank when I removed the old substrate and with what other's have already mentioned,,there should be no problem's.
Leaving some mulm in the bottom, will encourgae faster bacterial growth in new substrate.

HybridHerp · 06-05-2012, 08:12 PM

if you really wanted to, though I doubt its necessary, you could probably take some of the old gravel and place it in nets or something that sit at the bottom of the tank onto of the new gravel, that way the BB will still be there and you can just remove the bags like a week later easily
though honestly, as long as you are confident in your filter and the amount of BB it has I doubt you'd need to even do that

06-05-2012, 03:56 AM	#1
chew Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 292	Question about changing substrate I'm going to set up my 10g for a planted tank but im putting new substrate in (tired of girlfriends purple gravel). If i change out the substrate will it cause my tank to need to cycle again? And if so is there anything i can do to stop that? Thanks in advance!

06-05-2012, 04:08 AM	#2
LB79 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South-central Washington State, USA Posts: 1,793	Girls and gaudy colors... I know what you mean. Now, I'm not talking about all you girls on this forum that don't have gaudily colored gravel. Ugly brown that you can't see because it's covered in epic greenery is much better. Your substrate change will be fine as long as you have a mature filter (one that has been running for at least two to three months). The bacteria should be able to consume any ammonia. Just in case, you could take all the sludge you'll find under everything and put it under the new substrate. __________________ "One day...one day, this path will lead us to the White City, and the tower guard will take up the call: the Lords of Gondor have returned!" *–Boromir, The Lord Of The Rings*

06-05-2012, 05:13 AM	#5
pejerrey Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakland, California Posts: 1,924	It's going to be ok. I changed substrates before and rescaped a tank. I had no problems with the cycle. You will be fine as long as its not an active substrate that will leach ammonia like ADA. Thanks for getting rid of that lame gravel, but don't blame it on your gf! we know it was your choice! Lol! (joke) __________________ *A heavily planted shrimp tank is possible!*

06-05-2012, 01:21 PM	#6
OVT Carpe Diem (View User Tanks) PTrader: (123/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: SF East Bay Area Posts: 2,672	What's wrong with purple gravel? I mix it with coated green, add a bit of pink and no visitor to my house failed to comment on my taste. Anyways, keep the filter, re-use the water and off you go. Do check water quality for several days just to make sure. Have fun. __________________ Courtesy Integrity * Perseverance * Indominable Spirit * and Self Control* Tenets of TKD

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-05-2012, 04:16 AM	#3
Gooberfish Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Francisco Posts: 184	When I changed my substrate from blue gravel to eco complete, I saved as much of the aquarium water as I could salvage. All rocks, plants, decorations and anything that can have the beneficial bacteria should go in with the new substrate. Then I left town for a week. Came back and everything was alive and no algae booms. Worked for me.

06-05-2012, 03:05 PM	#7
roadmaster Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Missouri united states Posts: 705	Would leave some mulm in the bottom of the tank when I removed the old substrate and with what other's have already mentioned,,there should be no problem's. Leaving some mulm in the bottom, will encourgae faster bacterial growth in new substrate.

06-05-2012, 08:12 PM	#8
HybridHerp Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: New York Posts: 2,043	if you really wanted to, though I doubt its necessary, you could probably take some of the old gravel and place it in nets or something that sit at the bottom of the tank onto of the new gravel, that way the BB will still be there and you can just remove the bags like a week later easily though honestly, as long as you are confident in your filter and the amount of BB it has I doubt you'd need to even do that