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Changing substrate and cycling

ineke

By ineke
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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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I want to change the substrate in my 30" cherry tank but need the tank to be used straight away. I have an UG filter plus sponge filter, I want to keep a thin layer of current gravel, then over the top of approx half of the tank I want to put some ADA soil that is about 15 months old apparently . Over the other half I will be putting black silica chips. I will have plants in the ADA plus some mosses. I will keep most of the water to put back in and want to put my Red Cherries back in as soon as possible. Can I do this without causing too much trouble for the cherries . I don't have a spare tank and I really don't like the gravel that is in there at the moment. I don't mind doing water changes and water tests but I don't want to kill my cherries. If the UG filter is a problem I have an internal eheim power filter I can use its quite a good one can't remember the power at the moment but it was bought for this tank I just don't use it because of the babies but I could make a net guard for it.

cheers

ineke:encouragement:

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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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Just bumping this up is it possible to do this thanks:encouragement:

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2OFUS Shrimp Master

2OFUS

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It should be ok

providing u are using a seeded filter and already established gravel/soil

ld still wait a day or 2 before adding live stock

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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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Thanks for that 2OFUS. I will be using all the current seeded filters and half of the gravel that is over the UG filter, nearly all the water from the tank will be saved and put back in, the gravel I will be adding is damp but has been out of a tank for about a week. I suppose it wouldn't harm them to be kept in an esky with heater and a sponge filter from their tank for a few days and see what the ammonia is doing in the tank. will be lots of plants and moss too.

does anyone know what happens to the ADA once it no longer buffers, will it be safe for the shrimp. I want to use it for the look not worried about any other properties . It will always be the RCS tank while that is in there.

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

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BlueBolts Shrimp Guru

BlueBolts

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Presume you'll be siphoning all the water and inhabitants 1st, then the gravel exchange/swap ? Just be weary of the water cloudiness when pouring the water back....use a pastic bag on the substrate floor and slowly pour. As 2OFUS mentioned, wait for 1-2 days, and/or until the water is clears, do a 10-20% WC, then a complete WP test....

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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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Thanks BB Yes to all of the above and I always use bubble wrap to pour water onto also a colander is great To diffuse the water as well . I will keep them in a makeshift tank for a few days and will do as you say with the WP . I don't suppose the fact that they are not in an aquarium will bother them!!!

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

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Squiggle Shrimp Guru

Squiggle

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Just a note, careful with putting your heater in a plastic Esky, I've had a heater melt through the side of a plastic container before, long story short, it didn't turn out well for the fish. You can get heater covers/protectors from your LFS or just have the heater sit in a class jar if the water is deep enough :encouragement:

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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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Phew good one Squiggle didn't think about that. Esky is quite deep so should be able to find something for the heater to sit in. It probably won't even come on because the room is quite warm. I will be doing it over the weekend hopefully , looking forward to tidying up the tank as I am using it to grow out the mosses and plants I have . Hubby thinks it looks great , wild and natural I like neat and unnatural if everything was left to me I would have one thing here and a matching one over there everything neat and tidy. But nature doesn't work like that!!!!

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

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Squiggle Shrimp Guru

Squiggle

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Should be a fun weekend for you, I love doing this sort of stuff, it's like you're setting up another tank :encouragement:

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ineke Shrimp Guru

ineke

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Yes I love this sort of thing too and I actually have a picture in my head as to what I want so that will be a first, although not sure if the plants I am using will give the exact look I want but will be fun anyway.

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

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