Changing a Substrate

**Fisher_Zeb** · 08-28-2011, 02:38 PM

Ive read up on ways how to change an substrate and i now know the best way to do it, i currently have a tank in cycling with danios, when the cycle is done and its time to transfer my fish from my other tank to this tank just before i want to change the substrate which is currently gravel to sand, i want the sand ontop as i want to do some sand hills, rocks and caves etc..but i do like my natural gravel so how can i keep this in my tank, i was thinking a layer of the gravel then the sand? When it does come to the change i was thinking (when the plants are taken out etc) draining the water and keeping it to put back in?

p.s the sand is play sand.

**Fisher_Zeb** · 08-28-2011, 02:42 PM

Also i believe mud is good for a planted tank, and mud out the garden can be used, can anyone tell the options i have, thankyou in advance!

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-28-2011, 02:56 PM

Gravel and sand will not mix. Sand is smaller grained and will all settle on the bottom.

I would not use mud from your garden. Planting in organic soil is not like using garden soil that may have had pesticides or fertilizers added and has bugs in it. You can plant in organic top soil that contains no fertilizers but you should read up on how planting this way is done.

**fishmasterflash** · 08-28-2011, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

Gravel and sand will not mix. Sand is smaller grained and will all settle on the bottom.

I would not use mud from your garden. Planting in organic soil is not like using garden soil that may have had pesticides or fertilizers added and has bugs in it. You can plant in organic top soil that contains no fertilizers but you should read up on how planting this way is done.

+1. that mud can have all sorts of buggys and weird chemicals, even if you dont use chemicals in your garden, runoff from your neighbors garden could potentially contain harmful chemicals..