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How often do you have to change the substrate of the aquarium?
Anyone who does not yet have that much experience as an aquarist is probably wondering how often the substrate in the aquarium should be changed. However, with proper care, the substrate of an aquarium is much more durable than most people think. It doesn’t matter whether the substrate consists of gravel, soil or sand. The inhabitants of the aquarium do not make any special demands on the age of the substrate either.
Over time, however, the substrate becomes poorer in nutrients. This is bad for plant growth. If they don’t get enough nutrients, they stop growing, start to rot and die. To avoid this, it is sufficient to take the substrate out of the tank every few years and wash it thoroughly. You can then use the same substrate again.
What is the best way to maintain the substrate?
Good floor care is important so that you can enjoy the substrate for a long time and do not have to constantly take it out and wash it or even replace it. The easiest way to do this is with a hose or a mud vacuum cleaner. The water in the aquarium should be changed once a week anyway. With this principle, the size of the pool is initially irrelevant. The substrate is now freed from mulm, dead plant parts, fish droppings and other things with the hose or mulm vacuum cleaner.
At the same time, the water is sucked in and can then be replaced with fresh water. Changing the water and sucking off the sludge is not only good for the substrate, but also for the fish and plants. The plants often grow many times faster after a partial water change.
What is the easiest way to change the substrate?
If you still want to change the substrate for another reason, it is important to proceed carefully and plan enough time. Changing the substrate always means stress for the inhabitants of the aquarium. Whether you take it out to replace it or just to wash it. There are two ways to change the substrate. The first is usually gentler on the fish.
You leave the fish in the aquarium and work around them. First you remove the substrate on one side of the tank and then on the other side. The second variant is to catch the fish beforehand and temporarily relocate them. This can be done in a large bucket or in the bathtub and should not take too long. In both variants, the plants must first be removed from the tank. After changing the substrate, the water is a bit cloudy. With the help of the filter, this subsides after a few hours.
Changing the substrate:
- remove some water
- remove the plants and store them in a bucket of water
- (possibly remove the fish)
- remove the decorations and roots
- remove the substrate with the help of the hose or a shovel
- wash the substrate well (regardless of whether it is new or old)
- fill in the substrate (again).
- use the decorations, roots and plants
- use the fish gently
- refill the pool
- make sure to run the filter
- a few starter bacteria and fertilizers can be used