Cinnebuns Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 I have been SLOWLY scooping gravel out of this fry tank. I started with a large scoop and am now down to literally a plastic spoon. I'm realizing I won't be able to get it ALL without emptying the thing, unless someone has a method I hadn't thought of. It's housing guppy and panda cory fry. The cories being the ones of concern with the gravel. What would you do? Keep scooping and get it as beat as you can or take fry out, empty gravel, put fry back in. There are a few concerns with the 2nd choice. Losing a fry or 2 in the move isn't a huge deal as I'll have plenty more, but I do have 2 different batches of guppies on each side and that's a chance of someone somehow getting to the wrong side not a huge deal as I'm not some major line breeding orsomething, but still a consideration. The larger issue I see is the stress of the move combined with the stress of an 100% water change. I guess I could save most of the water but I assume it would still change the conditions a bit. Advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HH Morant Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 (edited) When I changed the substrate in my 125-gallon tank, I took a bucket and set it down on the inside the tank on the bottom. I used a scoop first and then a cup to put the sand in the bucket. At the end I just used my hands/fingers to get the last bits. The important thing is to have your container - it could be a plastic cup - inside the tank sitting on the bottom so you don't have to go far with each few pieces that you pick up. That's not very fancy, but it worked for me. Edited March 13, 2022 by HH Morant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnebuns Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 Oh that's smart. That one tip will change some hassle and back pain lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 For the last bit of gravel, I would be tempted to siphon it out to a bucket, and save fry from there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griznatch Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 On 3/12/2022 at 8:00 PM, Streetwise said: For the last bit of gravel, I would be tempted to siphon it out to a bucket, and save fry from there. I have done that, and it had little or no effect on the few guppy fry that got sucked in to the bucket. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 I use a 1 inch vinyl tube from the hardware store roll. After the large cup fills are out I start a siphon and vacuum the rest to the last piece. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 unless you just absolutely feel the need to have it all out, id just leave the last little bit. even in a drained tank that last 30 pieces is a pain to remove. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Use your tool of choice to collect the gravel into small piles. I like the pastry cutter from the kitchen. Remove the 1/2" ID hose from your gravel vac to siphon gravel out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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