Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm thinking about switching my substrate from gravel to sand. Anyone got tips on how to do this without stressing my fish too much? Tank's a 10 gallon, planted, with a single male betta and a few snails. He's been in there about 6 months.

The key is to do it gradually. Remove about a third of the old substrate at a time, replacing it with the new sand. Space it out over a few days to avoid shocking the biological filter. Keep an eye on ammonia levels, as disturbing the substrate can release trapped waste.

Yo, I did this last month! It's chill if you take it slow. I scooped out the gravel bit by bit, rinsed the sand super well first, and my betta didn't even blink. Just make sure the new stuff isn't too sharp, yeah?

Why not just leave the gravel? Sand's gonna be a pain to clean, and your plants might not like it. Bettas don't care either way, they just wanna flare at their reflection.

atlantic wrote: ↑Wed Jun 04, 2025 5:46 am Yo, I did this last month! It's chill if you take it slow. I scooped out the gravel bit by bit, rinsed the sand super well first, and my betta didn't even blink. Just make sure the new stuff isn't too sharp, yeah?

Agreed on rinsing the sand. I didn't do that once and clouded my tank for days. Also, avoid stirring up the old substrate too much to keep debris low.

Lol, my betta just hid the whole time I was messing with the substrate. Drama queen. But yeah, go slow and maybe feed a bit less during the process to keep the water cleaner.

If you're worried about the filter, you can temporarily add a sponge pre-filter to catch any loose particles. Also, sand can compact over time, so poke it occasionally to prevent dead spots.

Bettas are tough, they'll handle it. Just don't go full demolition mode in there. And sand looks way cooler than gravel, so worth the effort imo.

I'd recommend turning off the filter while you're working to avoid sucking up sand. Also, keep some of the old substrate in a mesh bag near the filter to preserve beneficial bacteria.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try the gradual approach and rinse the sand well. Appreciate the tips on keeping the filter safe too.