I've got a 29 gallon aquarium with an Aqualclear 200, a Tetra Whisper 30, and a UGF with no powerhead. I'm thinking of switching my colored gravel for a sand substrate b/c I have primarily loaches. All my loaches and other fish are 2" or less. I plan to use either playground sand or pool filter sand, with a few smooth, round brown pebbles mixed in.
My fish are as follows:
4 clown loaches
3 yo yo loaches
2 zebra loaches
2 angelicus loaches
2 SAEs
1 dwarf flame gourami (gonna go in a 10 gallon soon)
I'm at or over the limit of fish for my 29, but I plan to move them to a 75 gallon when they get bigger.
When I change out my gravel for sand (and ditch the UGF), can I save the old water in the tank and put it back in after I'm done changing and rearranging the tank? I don't want to start a new cycle. I have a 10 gallon QT the fish can hang out in while I'm doing this. The water parameters generally run identically between the two tanks unless I have the temp pumped up in the QT for ich. I plan on rinsing and cleaning the sand several times before I'm ready to do the switch. I'm also planning on putting in that little 100 gph Penquin Biowheel HOB filter to offset the loss of the UGF. That, in addition to the Aqualclear 200 and the Whisper 30, will put me at 430 gph for the 29 gallon tank. That is overkill but it makes me feel like I'm doing all I can to keep the water in top shape. I already do 30% PWCs every 2-3 weeks as well.
Let me know if you think this is a good plan.
My fish are as follows:
4 clown loaches
3 yo yo loaches
2 zebra loaches
2 angelicus loaches
2 SAEs
1 dwarf flame gourami (gonna go in a 10 gallon soon)
I'm at or over the limit of fish for my 29, but I plan to move them to a 75 gallon when they get bigger.
When I change out my gravel for sand (and ditch the UGF), can I save the old water in the tank and put it back in after I'm done changing and rearranging the tank? I don't want to start a new cycle. I have a 10 gallon QT the fish can hang out in while I'm doing this. The water parameters generally run identically between the two tanks unless I have the temp pumped up in the QT for ich. I plan on rinsing and cleaning the sand several times before I'm ready to do the switch. I'm also planning on putting in that little 100 gph Penquin Biowheel HOB filter to offset the loss of the UGF. That, in addition to the Aqualclear 200 and the Whisper 30, will put me at 430 gph for the 29 gallon tank. That is overkill but it makes me feel like I'm doing all I can to keep the water in top shape. I already do 30% PWCs every 2-3 weeks as well.
Let me know if you think this is a good plan.