transfer to same size tank

[Greggle]

happy thursday, all. i've been using black diamond sand in my tanks and i love it. i want to switch the substrate in my betta community tank to sand from pebbles. i have a second, identical empty tank (10g). my plan is to put the cleaned sand into the empty tank and move everything over, unwashed, to the new tank, matching the same set up: plants, rocks, heater, sponge filter. i realize the gravel houses quite a bit of beneficial bacteria, but would the transfer of everything else be safe enough for the fish?

[Guppysnail]

Yes. I have done this type of tank swap replacing substrate before to same size due to leaks. Feed lightly for a week or two and monitor the big three params.  Most I usually see is a hint of nitrite for a few weeks. 

Edited June 30, 2022 by Guppysnail

[Hannah Parker]

It might be a bit unnecessary, but when I've done a substrate change from pebbles/gravel, I've always put a few handfuls of the old substrate in a mesh bag to save, and put that bag back in the tank for 2-4 weeks. That way I figure you can still have a portion of that beneficial bacteria from the old substrate in the tank until a new colony grows on your new substrate. It's ugly sitting in the tank, but only temporary. 

[Greggle]

i think i'll do the mesh bag thing as well. i can see no harm in it so why not? 

 

[Bill]

Hey, I'm pretty sure that beneficial bacteria needs water flow, so unless you have an under-gravel filter, most of the BB will be in your filter so I'd not worry about the gravel.