Gravel Removal

[mordrake]

hi folks,

i have a 6ft with seachem onyx sand.
if i want to remove the onyx totally, what would be the fastest method?

note that the tank has 1 aro, 2 altums, 2 discus, cories, SAEs, barbs and 1 bristlenose.
no base fert and only rooted plants are e tenellus and crypts... the rest ferns and anubias on wood

thanks

[Shadow]

use hose to suck all the onyx

[bossteck]

Sounds like a back-breaking work. Agree with Shadow, use a suitably large diameter hose to siphon out the sand. You most likely have to fill up the tank a few times before all the sand can be removed.

There's a risk that your fishes may be affected especially if there's build up of anaerobic baterial in your substrate.

Not easy, keep us posted. I am thinking of replacing my lapis sand in my 5x2 tank as well so would like to learn from your experience.

[mordrake]

back breaking it definitely is... more problematic would be to get clearance from CO
i was thinking of using my son's shovel to do most of the removal and the leftovers, use my vacuum (wet/dry)... can do?

but headache are the fishes (aro 18+inch) and keeping my BB alive. running a pump to circulate water and air pump in my sump suffice to keep BB alive?

[mordrake]

Wasn't it not too long ago that you set up your tank? Why would you want to re-bed it so soon? To me, it would be easier to remove all the fishes and plants, empty the tank and shovel up all the gravel.
I did that with my 2 ft, but then I was basically closing the tank. For the kind of upheaval that is going to be involved, I think it would be easier to that, which essentially means starting all over again.

yep, setup's 11mths old.

if i can find temp shelter for my aro, i will clear everything like you said.
hmmm... i do have a bathtub

[benetay]

It's not that bad! just ask a few of your friends to help. Shovel method is great, i think there are quite a lot of people here done on their 3-4-5-6fts. I used to have 22kg x 6 bags of lapis sand and 20 x 5kg of base fert. Everything out in less then 2 hours.

Line the floor area with newspaper, gather a few red pails, one person manage the removal of gravel to pail, the rest will carry to empty the pails. Heavy but it's relatively quick. Save the vacuum to vacuum the floor.

All the substrate was line nicely under a tree below the block. Growth of grass in the following months was tremendous comparing to the rest.

Everything can be done in less then 2 hours. Your beneficial bacteria should be able to last till the next refill. Time does not includes cleaning of tank. I would say cleaning the tank might take another hour or so. If i remember correctly BB will only live 4 hours without circulation.(Let me know if i remember wrongly)

You can put your aro in the tub and finish everything under 4 hours.

A total of 232kg of substrate out of the tank.

PM me if you need more information.

Cheers!

[mordrake]

thanks for all the tips! will work on the proposal to CO now