tank change

Just wondering how to go about changing my tank.
Looking to remove the plastic plants , gravel, and ornaments and replace with real plants, some sand and bog wood going for a real river bed look.
Wondering how the fish would react with beind taken out of the tank for a day?
Need to know the best way to get everything ready?

Hi Steo,

Fairly new to this myself (foruming, not fishkeeping!) but from what I can gather this query you have has not been answered by onyone yet so I will give you my advice.

Firstly, as I always ask, are you running a traditional system or using Organic Aqua?

If you are traditional then you must put steps in place to keep your biological filter going while you undertake the refurbishment of you tank. Your biological filter keeps all the dangerous levels your fish produce under control and in turn keeps your fish alive.

If you are using Orgic Aqua then this is not an issue but for a full change you should use another Start Up Kit and be aware that you should counteract the acidifing properties of the bogwood with a little bit of coral sand in the filter to buffer your pH.

You don't mention the size of your tank but I can't really see it being of a size that would require you to spend a full day on the change over so don't worry about the fish too much in that respect!

If you are keeping the fish out of the tank for any period of time tho, it is a good idea to keep them in something that is used for them exclusively (ie not the bucket you use to bleach the kitchen floor!)and by putting the filter and heater in it too you can serve the duel function of keeping your bacteria in the filter going and keep the water temperature and toxic levels in check. Place the bucket somewhere out of bright light and away from too much activity (children!!).

When placing the fish back in the tank it is of utmost importance that you check that the pH and temperature are as close as possible in the new water. Fish dont mind going into a higher pH (max rise of 1.4 per day) but tend to react badly to sudden pH drop.

I commend anyone who decides to use real plants and decor over plastic versions as they do look much better and contribute to a smoother running system. If you are keeping plants tho I would recommend using Organic Aqua Plant Treatment.

Avoid using any chemicals (soap, washing up liquid etc.) or hot water (tends to break glass!) to clean your tank or equipment and if traditional, never wash your biological media (filter sponge) with tap water as the chlorine will kill off the beneficial bacteria.

I hope this has been helpfull, please contact me if you have any further queries and good luck with the tank!

Cheers,

Steve