adding substrate

[frankenfish]

would it be possible to add substrate to my tank? if i took all the fish out and emptied most of the water and then added it. or is that something that needs to be done when your initially setting up the tank?

 

[Doomhed]

you can do it without removing the fish if you lower the water level a small amount and you add only a tiny amount of rocks at a time and avoid smooshing the fishes.

 

[paperdog9]

You could do it with them in, but I'd prefer not. I was swiching my bright red gravel for natural colored gravel in my five gallon, and when the space is that small, theres nowhere for the fish to hide and it might get a little too invasive for them.

I would just take enough water out for the fish to be happy in your holding tank/bucket, put the fish in, and put in gravel/sand, then dump them back in, but be careful, there will be left over water.

 

[Doomhed]

yeah either way. I have fry in my tank, so I dont have that choice.

 

[frankenfish]

managed to catch all my fish fish in little plastic cups. forgot i didnt have a net while i was at the store. lol. that was quite a battle. gravel is in though and i think it's looking pretty good. i'm having some trouble with getting the plants to stay under though, they keep wanting to float to the surface.

 

[littletankbigworld]

You can tie plants to aquarium safe rocks with fishing line.