GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Starting over with an established planted aquarium

20-04-2003, 06:12 AM

mallfry (E. Mito) wrote in message ...
Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to replace the gravel in an
established aquarium?

I'd remove the mulm with a gravel vacuum. I'd decant off most all of
the water and save the concentrate to add to the bottom layer of the
flourite/onyx sand.
I'd also add about about one handful of ground peat to this bottom
layer. Cap with the flourite etc.
You'll need nothing else for the substrate.

I'd save about 30-50% of the water and leave the filter parts in the
water or keep them moist and wet.

This is also a good time to remove any algae present.
Clean any equipment glass etc well.

Then look at the CO2 set up you have/or don't have and get the range
up to 20ppm-30ppm and keep it there. Change the DIY bottles more
often, like weekly, if you haven't been.

Add some hornwort or other cheap plants for the first week. Trim off
any algae from old plant leaves. The tanks should have no problem
settling in if you take care of the CO2 and nutrients.

Regards,
Tom Barr