Adding substrates while fish in tank?

[kniveswood]

Is it ok to add substrates bit by bit while fishes are in tank? Or should I remove the fishes into another tank first? Either way will stress the fishes I believe. Or any other suggestions?

[|squee|]

Remove the fish. They will be less stressed

[kniveswood]

My fishes are clown loaches that arrived in my tank for less than a week. Is it better if i wait for some time before removing them? Or are the few days already enough for them to settle down?

Looking at the beautiful tanks in "Tank Gallery" makes me wanna do something about mine hehe.

[loupgarou]

I believe clown loaches are hardy enough

[|squee|]

Do what I did when I rescaped my tank:

1) Suck out half or more of the tank water into a pail.
2) Scoop out all the fishes/invertebrates, and place them in the pail.
3) For extra safety, you might want to connect the fliter to the pail, creating a makeshift tank.
4) Do your rescape/
5) The next day, put back the fishes along with the tank water.

They should survive. Mine did

[juggler]

[quote:af64eba166="kniveswood"]Is it ok to add substrates bit by bit while fishes are in tank? Or should I remove the fishes into another tank first? Either way will stress the fishes I believe. Or any other suggestions?[/quote:af64eba166]

What squee suggested is good.

Actually,

substrate = gravel (top) + base fertiliser (bottom)

BTW what do you have in your current setup?

Is it you got gravel but no base fertiliser? I heard some people insert the base fertiliser underneath the gravel by putting them in envelopes and trying to push them inside. The paper will rot over time and the plants can access the base fertiliser. Or you can cut holes in the envelopes after inserting them under the gravel.

If you already got gravel but want to make it thicker, then I think can just pour the new gravel in.

[kniveswood]

Actually my plan was just to add more gravel to make the tank look nicer. Currently it's all gray sand hehe. I'm not sure if i should have fertiliser as im planning to keep the tank low-tech.