Gravel to sand

[Jennkp]

I left my filter off for over 48 hours when we moved but what I did was put the filter media in a ten gallon tank that had about 2 gallons of tank water in it with a few of my ghost shrimp. You need to keep the filter media wet with the tank water. I left all my fish in a 20 gallon tub with a long air stone to pump fresh oxygen & just treated their water every time I added more. Yes aquarium sand has to be rinsed. What kind are you using? I used pool filter sand. For my 30 gallon I used a Tupperware container the size of the API master test kit lid, I lived in an apartment at the time I made the switch so a water hose was out of the question as I lived upstairs. Plus i didn't have a 5 gallon bucket to do it in. It took me about 3 hours for the whole process. I bought a 50 gallon bag for $7 @ aces hardware. Also I took a pair of panty hose I got @ Walmart for $1 & cut the foot off & secured it around the filter intake so it wouldn't suck up the sand. I put my filter back in as soon as I got the tank filled up with water since I left a bit of old tank water in & I didn't rinse the tank so some of that bb would still be in it. I also did a few water changes the next day to keep the cloudiness at bay. As soon as I felt it was okay I acclimated my fish & put them back in.

 

[dmrt1722]

What would be the best way to put the sand in a tank that already has fish in it?

 

[Jennkp]

Take your fish out. Drain about 3/4 of the tank & put them in another container with treated water. Then start the process.

 

[dmrt1722]

Thanks! I will have to wait till my husband can help me do that.