Changing to sand substrate?

[Voylike]

Hi guys, as mentioned before I’m new to the hobby, have had my fair number of issues, however loving it and learning all the time
I’ve started with grey and white gravel with substrate underneath but am thinking of changing to sand. Is this possible to do with fish in tank and will I still need substrate underneath the sand for my plants?
Thanks

[Martinspuddle]

Full strip down of the aquarium, otherwise you run the risk of fish loss or damage and then there's the problem of toxic issues with the aquarium water column after disturbing the substrate.

[fr499y]

As above, move the fish out of the tank into a suitable container, strip the tank down, give it a little clean while your there and go from ground up. Leave the filter running with the fish if its not fixed to the aquarium

[Voylike]

Thanks , would I be leaving as much water in as possible or just keep the 20 litres or so that my fish would be put into when I move them out?

[fr499y]

no harm in keeping as much water back as possible for them to go into, it will help reduce any shock to the fish.

[SPACKlick]

Fr499y beat me to it.

Put your fish in a container with as much water as you can, you'll be getting rid of all the water from the tank pretty much.

[Voylike]

Excellent, thanks a lot guys

[Pleco Fan]

Are you sure you want to switch to sand, I remember when I had sand and it's a nightmare to clean with a syphon.
I use Aqua soil btbh this is not easy to clean and I have to use a very small syphon but it still sucks it up.

[fr499y]

ive never cleaned my sand, the filter flow is enough to pick up any dirt

[black ghost]

If it was just gravel you could simply siphon it out and replace with the sand. The substrate is the problem. You won’t get that out without the water going muddy so you need to remove the fish and empty the tank.

Put the filter on the fish if it’s practical. Give them an airstone too if… Save as much water as you can.

Make sure you wash the sand. If it’s ‘pre-cleaned’ it’s only a large scale industrial-type cleaning, so it probably won’t be totally clean.

Put the fish and decor back in when you’re done. The fish will be stressed so I’d just dump everything back in with the water you’ve saved, and as long as there’s enough for the filter and heater to work I’d then leave them. You can top it up and arrange the decor later when they’ve settled again. Best to minimise the stress. They won’t mind mucky water.

Plants are fine in just sand. Most feed through the leaves, and you can (should) use root tabs for any root feeders.

Some of your filtration bacteria will be on the gravel you remove, so you may have reduced filtration afterwards. Feed less and test ammonia and nitrite for a few days…