Moving substrate (different layers) & heat

[Punkymom]

I want to get a 55 gallon and move my whole set up over there. I'll have to get more substrate as right now I have a 26 bow and it won't be enough. I have 20# of eco-complete and 25# of small pebble gravel that I want to move over to the 55 gal when I get it. Do I have to separate the different gravels by hand? Can I mix them? I don't really want to do that, but I'm afraid it's going to be a PITButt to try and separate them. Will they possible maybe almost separate on their own? Yeah, right. That'd be too easy. TIA!

2nd ? - do I need an under gravel heater for the substrate? Benefits? Drawbacks? I really don't want one if I don't need one. TIA!

 

[fort384]

I have heard a lot of really good things about using an undergravel substrate heater. Supposedly, in the long run, it will make for a healthy tank, and delay old tank syndrome almost indefinitely. If I setup a larger tank in the future, I would definitely add it. It is inexpensive, and the benefits, though not completely proven, seem to make it worth the money.