Changing Substrate

Thanks@Matt, you've premptively answered one of my questions! Turned out to be a much bigger task than I realised. So it didn't get finished last night.

One of my main aims with re-doing the substrate is to significantly reduce the level. I've been concerned since soon after setting up my tank (nearly 8 years ago) that it was too deep.

I stopped tank renovation work last night because I've run out of space to put the substrate that I'm removing! I think I've taken out a few litres of gravel so far. (And about 100l of water!) But it's no where near enough yet (and it is just the end third of the tank so far!). I was looking at it last night trying to decide how much to take the level down. If I go down to about an inch, I've got the same to go again!

I had been thinking about getting a finer gravel, but I have Eco Complete substrate under my gravel, and as expected the finer particles are lower down. So by removing the top layers, I'm actually removing the larger gravel. And the lighter gravel. So another side effect is that my substrate is getting progressively more black. Which is actually quite attractive (imo).

It is interesting seeing how the fish have reacted to the disruption. The rasboras were swimming around as though they
were saying "where's my plants? What have you done to my plants?"

I didn't expect to see the kuhli loaches out in the non planted area, but one of them seemed to like the new dark substrate. And I saw behaviour I've never seen before: it looked like the kuhli was hunting and pouncing. Makes me wonder what was living in the gravel that I disturbed!

At first I thought there was something wrong with the kuhli. Then I realised that the sudden movement was actually very controlled and looked like a pounce. What I think of as normal, pootling movement that I guess was stalking, then sudden fast movement that stopped just as suddenly as it started. I'm looking forward to seeing it again. Helps motivate me to do the next lot of renovation!

Looks good! That sure is a lot of vallis to plant 

Bulb plants generally are pretty indestructible, though they can wait around for the right time/conditions. I experimented with mine for a long time before learning what they like... They then finally sent up proper leaves etc - it's quite a nice process.

It seems that the large (and cooler!) water changes at the weekend have caused my rasboras to start breeding. There are at least 2 espeii that look gravid. I don't think any of the harlies are I have a feeling they might all be males, but I am no good at sexing them.

I don't imagine any eggs will survive - the kuhlis seem to be able to get into the most surprisingly small spaces. And are pretty active hunters.

Am I mad to be looking for a garden sieve with 2mm mesh to sort all my removed substrate? 

This is the one I'd found:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006HUU3XG/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=AG4YIN65BG0QU&psc=1

I feel slightly less foolish using gardening equipment on my tank than if I was using archeological equipment (I know by they are the same thing with different names!) 

I use a metal kitchen sieve, which is now part of my dedicated fish tool kit, so use whatever works for you. 

I'm rubbish at attaching plants to wood with thread, so I use the Flourish glue https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seachem-Plant-Flourish-Glue-Tube/dp/B00NG4WO60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511738334&sr=8-1&keywords=flourish+glue
Much easier, as long as you don't glue your fingers to the wood. 

You're doing a great job with your tank, well done. 

Looks good Helen!! 

Just one more session to go by the looks of it!! 

So I've removed the gravel from the final "third" of the tank. Didn't take me quite as long as expected, largely due to the new 'tool' I got for £2.50 from Amazon. (See attached photo).

But I've run out of steam before re-planting  all my crypts.

When I pulled up my anubias, I discovered that it was much bigger than I had realised. I've trimmed the end and the roots and put it back onto the gravel. It's currently being held down by a penguin (the only artificial decoration in my tank. It was given to me by my 2 yr old daughter for mother's Day, so it has to stay in the tank. I hide it in the corner, under the anubias. Where it is at eye level for small children, but hidden from everyone else's view)

I've got the substrate level a bit lower than I want, because I intend to sieve out some of the smaller grains from the substrate I've removed, and put it back into the tank. Will I need to wash the substrate before I put it back in? I have stored it in carrier bags, and some of it has dried out, but otherwise I've not done anything to it since removing it from the tank.

Then the last stage before I can start restocking with fish, is to put the sand area in. This will mean taking out more gravel (but from an area I've already done and deliberately left with less substrate, so hopefully won't take too long) and of course I need to wash the sand.

The end is in sight...