Re: changing substrate in an established aquarium
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2025 6:06 am
Do you have a filter in your tank?
If you do, just drain most of the water out and put it in a clean fish bucket with the fish and filter media. Tip the gravel out and put clean, washed sand in. Add the old water, fish, and filter. Top up with some clean dechlorinated water. Turn everything back on and you're done.
Plants will grow just as well in gravel or sand. So if you don't mind the gravel, then leave it there and just add some live plants.
You need light on the tank for live plants. What sort of light is on the tank and what sort of globe does it have? Check for numbers and a letter on the globe, something like 4500K.
If you do, just drain most of the water out and put it in a clean fish bucket with the fish and filter media. Tip the gravel out and put clean, washed sand in. Add the old water, fish, and filter. Top up with some clean dechlorinated water. Turn everything back on and you're done.
Plants will grow just as well in gravel or sand. So if you don't mind the gravel, then leave it there and just add some live plants.
You need light on the tank for live plants. What sort of light is on the tank and what sort of globe does it have? Check for numbers and a letter on the globe, something like 4500K.