Changing Gravel

AJinNY · 04-19-2008, 09:12 PM

I was never loving my gravel.
It started out white, since medicating the tank, many of the stones turned green and Im not sure that will go away.

When I change gravel can I just do so in one full swoop? I mean, the beneficial bacteria is in the filter media, so this shouldnt disturb things....or will it?

When I put the new gravel in, should I throw a few stone of the old gravel in too toget the bacteria growing quicker?

sasquatch · 04-19-2008, 10:14 PM

is the gravel set up as an undergravel filter? if it is changing it all at once will create a problem

AJinNY · 04-19-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasquatch

is the gravel set up as an undergravel filter? if it is changing it all at once will create a problem

the gravel is on the bottom and the water goes through slats on the bottom which gets pumped up to the top which THEN goes through the filter medium....the filter is on top, gravel on bottom, so then it shouldnt be a problem, right?

or just in case should i throw a pack of biospira in when i change the gravel?

sasquatch · 04-19-2008, 11:17 PM

Jinny is the gravel sitting on a raised plastic grid?

Jeremy0322 · 04-20-2008, 12:58 AM

Have you thought going to sand. Gravel can collect detritus and sand looks prettier in my opinion.

PEMfish · 04-20-2008, 06:12 PM

Can't use sand with a under gravel filter. Do the change completely and slowly. In 3 parts +/-, be sure to not mix the gravel.

ramora · 05-13-2008, 07:18 PM

In theory you could use sand if you use a gravel tidy over gravel and put sand on top. also I would consider a canister filter much more efficient also
with live plants much easier to camoflouge. I have a fluval 404 that all it needs is a new impeller cover and a few new suction cups new pads,the bio balls i'll throw in for free.

04-19-2008, 09:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
AJinNY Plate Coral Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 711 View Gallery Karma Komment	Changing Gravel I was never loving my gravel. It started out white, since medicating the tank, many of the stones turned green and Im not sure that will go away. When I change gravel can I just do so in one full swoop? I mean, the beneficial bacteria is in the filter media, so this shouldnt disturb things....or will it? When I put the new gravel in, should I throw a few stone of the old gravel in too toget the bacteria growing quicker?

04-19-2008, 10:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,508 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Changing Gravel is the gravel set up as an undergravel filter? if it is changing it all at once will create a problem __________________ DIY stuff for my tank stand, 100g tank,rock lift, overflow, foam walls, closed loop,lighting reflectors, 50gal sump, bubbletrap and sock holder, ato bracket,kalk bucket and reservoir, 40gal fuge, fuge lighting, remotish dsb raceway, turf algae raceway, dual pumped recirc skimmer, more to follow. Barb ripped my sig

04-19-2008, 11:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,508 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Changing Gravel Jinny is the gravel sitting on a raised plastic grid? __________________ DIY stuff for my tank stand, 100g tank,rock lift, overflow, foam walls, closed loop,lighting reflectors, 50gal sump, bubbletrap and sock holder, ato bracket,kalk bucket and reservoir, 40gal fuge, fuge lighting, remotish dsb raceway, turf algae raceway, dual pumped recirc skimmer, more to follow. Barb ripped my sig

04-20-2008, 12:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jeremy0322 Ricordea Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 175 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Changing Gravel Have you thought going to sand. Gravel can collect detritus and sand looks prettier in my opinion. __________________ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...lon-build.html -Check it out and let me know what you think Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find. "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not." — Dr. Seuss, from The Lorax

04-20-2008, 06:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
PEMfish Reef Lobster Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 1,634 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Changing Gravel Can't use sand with a under gravel filter. Do the change completely and slowly. In 3 parts +/-, be sure to not mix the gravel. __________________ Paul `EM My cichlid tank plans, or Piranhas...; See how it all came to be; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...g-catchup.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ets-ready.html Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes.

05-13-2008, 07:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
ramora Limpet Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: albert lea minnesota Posts: 133 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Changing Gravel In theory you could use sand if you use a gravel tidy over gravel and put sand on top. also I would consider a canister filter much more efficient also with live plants much easier to camoflouge. I have a fluval 404 that all it needs is a new impeller cover and a few new suction cups new pads,the bio balls i'll throw in for free. __________________ Nano reef Club

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