sandbed

[atomicbiscut]

if i take my fish out and dont care about going thru another cycling period can i switch out all teh CC with sand at once? or are there other side affects a noob like myself would never think of.

 

[melosu58]

Alot of people do about 1/4-1/3 of the switch and get the next load in about a week. I would suggest that instead of the whole substrate at one time. I know Roka64 did it like that with his tank. Maybe he`ll be on here in a while. I hope all goes well.

 

[tecwzrd]

If taking the fish out and planning another cycle then I'd do it all at once.

I was the one that recommend Scott do 1/4 per week because he was keeping his fish in the tank at the time and the full replacement would have put too much of a strain on his bacterial colony and I was worried about nh3 spikes.

 

[roka64]

Yup, that was me and thanks for the advice tec. I did do 1/4 per week, I had fish and inverts in the tank. I like to be on the safe side, that's why I did 1/4 a week. I also had spare, premixed water just in case. I didn't have any fatalities, only a few nipped fins.

+++EDIT+++
I think I still have your PMs, for doing it.

 

[oo7cable]

I changed all mine at once with no problems. Just do it as fast as you can, and have plenty of mixed up SW to add into it.