can/should I change my gravel to black sand?

[kangster]

i've just been contemplating changing my gravel lately also, so thanks for asking this. btw.

if your also thinking about changing your gravel check this out
i found a thread in the other forum and people are thinking about putting a LEGO in their tanks...i know id like to make my tank look as natural as i can with the plants and black sand to recreate amazon but think about lego castles, lego space ship, lego sunken ship, or even a sponge bob square pants set (that is if they have this in a lego set)

i am thinking of adding a lego set and am planning to visit TOYS ARE US
again i feel like a little kid waiting for his next lego set

oh and IMO i think they should be safe for fish as i and a lot of other people who played with lego constantly sucked on it. but then chlorine is safe for us but not for fish...

 

[robott]

i put all kinds of crap in my tanks. one had battle cat (from he-man), one has glow in the dark zombies and a 12 sided die. umm. a plastic my little pony figurine, a glass bird i made... all kinds of crap. legos sound totally fun.

 

[kangster]

this is the link i found about using sand instead of gravel

Aquaworld Aquarium - The Silent Killer

i finished reading this in a room with all the lights out and the black background killed my eyes...be aware

 

[robott]

the white background on this kills mine. good article. food for thought.

 

[kangster]

NO!!!!!!
i changed my gravel to playsand and unlike my plan i changed the whole thing in a single shot
excited as i was i decided to add more fish to already overstocked tank on the same day
now my lovely albino bristlenose pleco died...he stiffed up like a frozen fish
all of the new fish died
strangely enough my neon tetras are thriving and healthy (they seemed to enjoy the tank all by themselves now)
i dont think the mistake was from changing the gravel but adding more fish to a "new" environment too soon
i am greatly sad and i miss my little pleco...

 

[meegosh]

What are your water parameters? Chances are your tank is going through another cycle. I bet you have either ammonia and/or nitrites present. It could be a coincidence but I feel it is all related to changing the substrate.

I would hold off on getting any more fish until you can afford a larger tank.

 

[kangster]

i think it is cycling again...
.5 ammonia
0 nitrite
0 nitrate
now i only have 12 neon tetras...and on the good side, they seem to love the place they have all for themselves