Aquariums

[MotoXcowboy]

alright, heres my only question before I set up the new substrate...

should I just put it over the old gravel?

I have also read about egg crates and found them yesterday at hommies.

I didnt get them yet because im not ready to jump into the switch yet.

The guy at homies said he had tanks too and he puts a cloth over the egg crate then put sand over that. is that right? I thought the sand went right into/and piled up ontop of the egg crate.

I also read if you go the egg crate route/switch you lose alot of the natural cycle..and should probably re-cycle the tank? is that right?

I would imagine stirring up the sand on top of a gravel base(to release the gasses) would be a pain in the ass and messy. I dont want the two mixing!

I like the clean sand look...I'm probably going to just take the old gravel out and go with the egg crate. I would be pissed if the ugly gravel started to mix with my new sand...

What advice can you guys give me about switching this ugly gravel out and putting in some nice sand.

Makeover step 2 is im going to get rid of all this store bought ornamental crap and put in some real rocks.

thanks in advance guys..

[ThrowingTimber]

Pond rocks wash em and scrub em like taters, then boil them and let them sun dry. Then do the bucket of water ph thing...

Taking out that gravel, remember that there is bacteria starting to grow on there that is beneficial to your tank. Cant really speak much to sand as I always stayed with a thin layer or polished rocks. Easier to vaccum

One thing to remember with rocks, that I learned with my piranas. When they grow a lil bigger (14"&17"), they're going to move things around to how they like them. Make sure they're set pretty sturdy, or you'll start hearing the rocks slamming into the glass at odd hours...

If you want to see that convict grow quick feed him a weekly cycle of krill in a month