Modifying My 200l Tank.

I'm very dissatisfied with the look of my 200 litre tank. Soil topped with sand seemed a good idea at the time however it's proving to not be such a great growing medium for my plants. I'd need to keep some sand at the front because one of my stiphs spends his life digging in it.

Do you think it would be possible to remove the sand at the back and replace it with a gravel cap WITHOUT removing the fish?

I always manage to suck some sand up when I'm cleaning, so I was thinking of using that method to shift the sand, it's good you've confirmed that for me Sue. I just need to do the extreme sides and the back, probably a 4-5inch wide strip should be enough. Most of the fish shift to the opposite side when I'm cleaning. I'll probably get my son to spot for me.

The vallis does ok in the sand but the leafier plants end up looking very spindly, hopefully if the roots get more O2 the plants will grow stronger. Thats the plan anyway. 

The gravel in the link looks quite rough. Are you talking bout tank 2 in your signature - that's the one with gobies listed. If it is and your sig is up to date, you have peppered cories listed, and I wouldn't use rough gravel with cories in a tank.

It is possible to get small smooth gravel, I used to have some in my tanks. The photo below is standard aquarium gravel on the left and the gravel I had on the right. The bag says "Betta Aquarium gravel" and the name and address on the bottom of the bag is J & K Aquatics, postcode TA2 8BA. I found J & K aquatics by googling, though it looks like they've moved since I got my bag. However, I think I must have the 1/8 inch gravel. If you could fine something like mine it would be better for cories, if you do indeed have some.

I got my gravel from a shop in either North Yorkshire or County Durham - I'm right on the border - but can't remember which shop it was. However it does mean that this gravel is stocked in other shops, and there are certain to be other makes as well that are similar.