Substrate

JerseyBird97

My tank is at work and was left in my charge by a fellow employee that moved. If you notice in my pictures it has white fine rock substrate. I like darker substrate. Is it possible to change it? If so how?

Twistersmom

You can change it out. The easiest way would be to move some out on water change day, then add some new, while the water line is dropped.
To not risk upsetting the cycle, It would best to only change some out each week. Maybe stretch the gravel change out over a 4 week period.

JohnnyD44

i agree, if you rip it all out at once, you risk a mini cycle, which isn't awful, but as TW said, best to stretch it out over a month or so

okijapan

What size tank is it? I personally would buy a set of nylons, then take the current substrate and stuff it in them while keeping the whole thing under water. Add your new substrate and lay your old substrate in the nylon on top for a few weeks until some bacteria can grow in the new stuff.

Of course if it's a high traffic area at work, all this could look a bit funny.

Just my .02

JerseyBird97

Thanks for the input guys!