Changing substrate in 60 gal

[Rotaripsnoc]

Since our blood parrot recently laid eggs, and insisted on moving our substrate around quite a bit (about 2 cups worth), I'm replacing our substrate with sand. Currently the substrate is about 2" deep of granite chips, each are about 0.25" in size.

I was considering moving some of the substrate into a nylon sock and leaving it in the tank for about a week since I'll be upsetting some of the bacteria culture.

I checked my filter a few days ago when I removed the carbon and the bb culture in the ceramic rings are very happy. Any thoughts if the substrate plays enough of a role to merit leaving some in the tank for a week ?

 

[Mawade1984]

What if you left a thin layer under the sand? Would that work? I'm thinking of changing my substrate too... Just not sure if I want to take on a big project like that... Can you use the vacuum on sand? I've never had sand before but kind of liking the idea of how it will look lol.

 

[Rotaripsnoc]

I thought about leaving a layer of gravel, but I ultimately removed it all. There was a layer of sediment I removed about half of it, and left some for new bacteria to grow, the rock we had been using had lots of bacteria growing, so I made a sponge filter, and enclosed a decent amount in the filter to turn the filter into a seed filter for other tanks, and for emergencies if I have a filter that goes out, its ready to go.

there are hose clamps to control the flow of water that you can add to your vacuum to reduce the flow and prevent the sand from being removed when you vacuum.

I have a fairly standard long 60 gal, a 50 lbs bag of playground sand from Lowes placed about 2-4" of sand on the bottom of the tank. Eventually I'll be adding a few freshwater clams and they should like the sand much more, as will Jack when she decides to re-arrange it.