Changing my substrate and need advice

[OceanMaiden]

I'm wanting to put sand in thebottom of a planted brackish tank. What kind of sand would be best? I should mix it with about 1/4 to half of my current substrate to keep the beneficial bacteria going right?? How do I go about adding it? Do I have to take all fish outta tank first? Do I have to do a 100% breakdown to add this? Any help would be great.

 

[GlitcH]

I think I got lucky when I added sand to my 29G.

I used pool filter sand and just poored it in. The water got cloudy but cleared up overnight and all the fish have been fine.

I added it over the existing gravel and didn't mix it at all cuz I was trying to bury some very pesky algae.

 

[Zagz]

Here is a great article on how to change out substrate.

I use pool filter sand. I have all FW tanks.

 

[OceanMaiden]

Cool thanks zagz, I really like the DIY funnel idea!! Also since my dragon fish is a brackish to marine fish can I safely usecoral sand or marine sand, or do I just need regular sand? Or do I use regular sand mixed with planted tank sand for the plants to grow good?
LoneWolfBlue has a lot of planted tanks, what is he using??

 

[rich311k]

Wolf uses Eco complete in his planted tanks. Plant will do fine in sand as long as it is not to fine grained. That can crush the roots.

 

[OceanMaiden]

Would it be ok for me to mix eco complete with some pretty colored aquarium sand?