Making current tank, a new tank

[Qs Evolution]

Hey guys I was wanting to redesign my 40breeder, I have sand and artificial plants from FG, I wanting to remove the sand, and use some different substrate, and and more big rocks. Would I be fine removing everything. Saving about half of the water then redo everything bow I want it, add the old water back in and then dump the rest with new water. Will this harm the fishes at all? Also, any ideas in what substrate I can use instead of sand..

[Qs Evolution]

This is how it currently looks.

[Ballinxalex]

Looks nice u should be fine with the swap

[troy tucker]

The tank looks nice. The good thing about sand. You can use a siphon to pull the sand out. Should be easy to do.

[mistahoo]

Should be fine. I tend to add Seachem Stability when restarting a tank and changing the substrate, but as long as you have your old filter it shouldn't be a problem.

[Qs Evolution]

Should be fine. I tend to add Seachem Stability when restarting a tank and changing the substrate, but as long as you have your old filter it shouldn't be a problem.

So what do you think the best way to do this swap?
and do you know if FG accepts fish for credit?

[mistahoo]

I'm sure they'll give you some credit depending on the fish. Just fill up a cooler or a 5 gal bucket (if your fish fit in one) halfway with the current tank water. Move the fish to it. Cut off filters. Drain the rest of the tank with substrate. Refill tank and add Seachem Stability with Prime (or whatever conditioner you use). Turn filters back on. Let the water sit for a few minutes. Add fish back.

[mistahoo]

Stability is optional. It's just a precaution I take when removing substrate or changing it since your substrate holds a large amount of your BB

[Qs Evolution]

I have 4 5gallon buckets, I could save half of the water, and just add the other half with new water. I'm sure thatd be a good idea right?

[ptran]

That's a "sick" looking angel!

[ptran]

I just swap out the old PFS in 150 gallon tank for aragonite yesterday with fish in.

I siphoned out about 50% of the water and removed all rocks and decoration. Then used a big net to scoop out the sand. It worked great. I was able to remove 99% of sand with a net. Then use the python to suck out the rest of sand.

Pumped back the water in and it was done. Removing sand was taking some time. The fish seem okay.

The key is don't disturb your filters.