Substrate changes to an active tank ?

[Mark]

I have a stable tank that I'm thinking of doing some interior
decorations on. But I was wondering what kind of an impact doing so
will have on the water and the tank.

I have all fake plants and a pea sized gravel substrate. I'm thinking
I'd like to make some substrate changes (add some sand) and start
putting some real plants in. Is it reasonable to want to create an
open sandy area surrounded by gravel substrate? Am I asking for
trouble trying to make substrate changes to an active tank?

Can I introduce real plants into a stable aquarium? I read online
that pea sized gravel is too coarse for plants, so I'd need some sand
in there for live plants, wouldn't I?

I'm trying to avoid starting over, is there a way around starting over
for some of what I want to do?

Thanks.

[KEITH JENNINGS]

Mixing sand and gravel is a bad idea, IMO. The sand and gravel get mixed
together, making a mess. If you don't want to empty the tank out, how about
getting some potted plants? You can get many attractive plant species that
do well in pots.

If you do switch to sand though, you should get trumpet snails, banjo
catfish, or some other animal that burrows to keep the sand from getting
anaerobic and polluting the water.

Just my $.02us;
Keith J.

"Mark" > wrote in message
om...
> I have a stable tank that I'm thinking of doing some interior
> decorations on. But I was wondering what kind of an impact doing so
> will have on the water and the tank.
>
> I have all fake plants and a pea sized gravel substrate. I'm thinking
> I'd like to make some substrate changes (add some sand) and start
> putting some real plants in. Is it reasonable to want to create an
> open sandy area surrounded by gravel substrate? Am I asking for
> trouble trying to make substrate changes to an active tank?
>
> Can I introduce real plants into a stable aquarium? I read online
> that pea sized gravel is too coarse for plants, so I'd need some sand
> in there for live plants, wouldn't I?
>
> I'm trying to avoid starting over, is there a way around starting over
> for some of what I want to do?
>
> Thanks.

[McEve]

"KEITH JENNINGS" > wrote in message
news:g0nDb.211>
> If you do switch to sand though, you should get trumpet snails, banjo
> catfish, or some other animal that burrows to keep the sand from getting
> anaerobic and polluting the water.

Hi,

I use sand in my tank, so I got curious about how this could pose a
potential risk for the enviorment in my tank. I found this comment:
http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.9611/msg00223.html

Should I by trumpet snails? I hope they burrow fast and stay down there
though, as my clown oaches _love_ and are used to being fed. live snails....

[Gail Futoran]

"Mark" > wrote in message
om...
> I have a stable tank that I'm thinking of doing some
interior
> decorations on. But I was wondering what kind of an
impact doing so
> will have on the water and the tank.

Gradual changes are best.

> I have all fake plants and a pea sized gravel substrate.
I'm thinking
> I'd like to make some substrate changes (add some sand)
and start
> putting some real plants in. Is it reasonable to want to
create an
> open sandy area surrounded by gravel substrate? Am I
asking for
> trouble trying to make substrate changes to an active
tank?

See below.

> Can I introduce real plants into a stable aquarium? I
read online
> that pea sized gravel is too coarse for plants, so I'd
need some sand
> in there for live plants, wouldn't I?

There should be no problem adding real plants. I have
plants planted in gravel and they're doing fine. Some argue
that planting plants in sand doesn't work because sand
compacts too much. I suggest adding some plants slowly and
see what happens. See other comments below.

You might also read rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants for more
detailed information on aquatic plants. I don't do CO2
injection, and my plants seem to do ok, but I don't have
heavily planted tanks.

> I'm trying to avoid starting over, is there a way around
starting over
> for some of what I want to do?
>
> Thanks.

I have "beach" areas in my 20 gallon & 30 gallon tanks that
now constitute about 25% of the bottom area. I have added
to those since originally setting them up. I vacuum the
gravel carefully and then take up a little at a time - i.e.,
I wouldn't change out 50% of the gravel at once. I define
my beach areas with river rocks (the kind you can buy at
hobby stores) and once in awhile will gently pull those up
and vacuum thoroughly around them. The river rocks keep the
sand and gravel *mostly* (not entirely) separate. BTW I use
sand purchased from a LFS. Dark colors are probably best.

Sometimes my loaches (Yo-Yo loach in one tank, Skunk botia
in another) will knock gravel onto the beach, or even knock
over the rocks. Cleaning it up doesn't take long while
doing partial water changes.

Other than the loaches I have small fish - the largest are
Bronze Corys & female Bettas. The Corys spend most of their
time on the sand, even though there is plenty of gravel
area. My sand/gravel combo has been in place in the two
tanks (actually 3 - there's a small beach area in the 10
gal) since April or May. The other critters (small tetras,
otos, ADFs) seem to like to divide their time between sand
and gravel areas.

I have some plants in the sand (mostly dwarf hairgrass which
grows very slowly in sand) and some plants in gravel (swords
and hygrophilia other easy-grow plants), and all seem to do
ok. You might consider a small piece of driftwood and
attach some Java Fern to it. I bought one Java Fern plant
and it kept reproducing, so now its babies are tied to about
8 pieces of driftwood in 3 tanks. Looks pretty. :)

Good luck with your project -

Gail