Help Proper Steps for Rescaping?

[SmartAlec13]

I am hoping to rescape my tank this month or next, in time to have it grow a bit for the IAPLC (no shot of winning, but would be fun to participate!). If not within that window, then later this year for sure. My current scape didn't end up how I wanted or pictured.

I have only rescaped once before, which involved moving to a new location, so I had hired my LFS's service to assist.

I just want to make sure I've got all the steps and details down. Also seeking guidance on how to clean the inside & outside of the tank so it's fresh & ready (without harming future tank inhabitants).

Equipment: multiple 5gal buckets, siphon, towels, spray bottle, trays, towels, plastic bags (for plants)
Steps:
1. Lower the water a tiny bit to reduce splashing
2. Remove shrimp & fish to the best of my ability, into 2 separate buckets, with airstones in both
3. Remove plants, put into plastic bags with moist paper towels
4. Remove hardscape
5. Remove any remaining shrimp (or fish)
6. Remove substrate & gravel bags (keeping some in a bucket to reuse for the next setup)
7. Clean the inside and outside of the tank - any recommendations for chemicals/substances/methods for this?
8. Rest for a moment
9. Get to work rescaping!

Am I forgetting anything major? Any other tips or guidance? The last two times felt quite stressful - the first because it was my first time, and the 2nd because I was just scrambling to get it done. I am making sure to pre-plan my hardscape far in advance this time, but any other tips to reduce stress are helpful. Thanks!

 

[Kwyet]

I don’t see any point in using chemicals to clean the tank unless you’ve had stubborn disease in there. If you’re able to do the rescape fairly quickly, you can just lower the water level enough to let you work and keep the filter running. If not, I would store the filter media in those buckets with the fish and air stone to save as much bacteria as possible. If you’re entirely draining the tank and removing every bit of substrate, a wet/dry vac is really helpful. Seeing other’s comments will be interesting!

 

[JayP]

It would likely be easier to remove all plants and hardscape before trying to remove fish and shrimp.

If you have any calcium/hard water staining on the glass, a vinegar/water mixture will help soften it up to scrape with a razer or scrub with a blue or white scrub pad. DO NOT USE GREEN SCRUB PADS! But like @Kwyet said, avoid other chemicals.

Another option for keeping the bacteria going in the filter is to run it on another tank if you have one going or even an extra spare tank filled with treated tap or RO water. It can run that way for as long as you need.

 

[Koan]

Remove shrimp & fish to the best of my ability, into 2 separate buckets, with airstones in both

I would drop by Petco and grab an inexpensive 20 gallon and aquaClear HOB or similar cheap filter , where you can park the shrimp and fish with the heater. You can also float some of the plants in there to keep everybody calm and keep the plants happy, even run a little CO2 in there if you want.

That will do the multiple duty of giving you someplace to park your filter media to keep oxygen flowing through it, park some of your bulkier and or more fragile plants, and take the time pressure off so you can take as much time as you need getting this just how you want it.

The stress of worrying how your shrimp and fish are doing in a bucket takes a lot of the fun out of the rescape. This way if for some reason it takes a week, so what?

Clean the inside and outside of the tank - any recommendations for chemicals/substances/methods for this?

White vinegar should be all you need. Paper towels or soap-free melamine / "Magic Eraser" pads only, no abrasive scrubbing pads!

If for some reason you have some super heavy hard water staining or something, you can use BarKeepers Friend, the powdered kind only not the liquid.

 

[SmartAlec13]

I would drop by Petco and grab an inexpensive 20 gallon and aquaClear HOB or similar cheap filter , where you can park the shrimp and fish with the heater. You can also float some of the plants in there to keep everybody calm and keep the plants happy, even run a little CO2 in there if you want.

That will do the multiple duty of giving you someplace to park your filter media to keep oxygen flowing through it, park some of your bulkier and or more fragile plants, and take the time pressure off so you can take as much time as you need getting this just how you want it.

The stress of worrying how your shrimp and fish are doing in a bucket takes a lot of the fun out of the rescape. This way if for some reason it takes a week, so what?


White vinegar should be all you need. Paper towels or soap-free melamine / "Magic Eraser" pads only, no abrasive scrubbing pads!

If for some reason you have some super heavy hard water staining or something, you can use BarKeepers Friend, the powdered kind only not the liquid.

I do have an extra 20gal sitting around, so your idea sounds pretty good. I'll go with using that to keep the filter moving and keep the fish & shrimp a bit happier than the buckets. Thank you!

 

[SmartAlec13]

Hello, reviving this thread because I have a new, similar question that doesn't need a whole new thread for it.

I plan on rescaping my tank some time this year, but unfortunately I am limited for choices when it comes to housing the fish & shrimp while the rescaped setup is cycling (I'll be using APT Feast, so fish-in-cycling is probably not a good idea, even with my current filter used on it).

Current critters: 3 Gold Honey Gourami, 12 Pygmy Cory, ~20 Red Cherry Shrimp, all currently living in a 60P (~16 gallons)

My options:
1. I have a 45U (9.3gal) tank that is currently cycling / cycled. It has no inhabitants besides snails, and has an Oase 100 hooked up to it.

• This would be a plus because its cycled
• This would be a minus, because the anubias are big and rocks in the way - getting the critters OUT will be a major hassle
• This would be a plus because it's on it's own stand (unlike alternative below)
• This would be a minus, because its a smaller tank than what the fish are used to.

2. I have an empty 20gal Aqueon tank sitting in my closet. I could remove the Oase 100 from the 45U and hook it up to this.

• This would be a plus because its bigger than the 45U, lots of room for the fish
• This would be a negative because I have no stand for it, it would take up counter space for weeks.
• This would be a negative because it would remove the Oase 100 from the 45U, which would get a small sponge filter during the time
• This could be a negative because it would be very lacking in hides / decor, besides the pebbles and a few plants I would put in it

Really, I am pretty set on using the 45U as my temporary holding tank. I am wondering though if this would be a very bad time for my fish, as three GHG's already pushes the size limit for my 60P, it's only gonna be worse on a 45U. If its only for the 3-4 weeks while I wait for the rescaped setup to cycle, would this smaller size tank be fine?

 

[Kwyet]

I would put the shrimp in the 45U, recognizing that I would never get all of them back out of it. Then I would put everything else in the 20g for the duration, even though it would be less convenient. As another alternative, I’ve used large Rubbermaid tubs as holding bins. I just sit them on the floor. The sides bow out if they get too full, but I put a bucket of sand or something on each side for support.

 

[hamfist]

If the the 3 gourami get on well then I would think the smaller tank will be sufficient for a month or so for all the livestock. However, as you realise, it is pushing things. Feed sparingly and keep up a very robust water change schedule to ensure waste levels are kept reasonable.

If you do decide to use the 20gal for all the livestock instead then don't just move the Oase across. move substrate, hardscape, plants, everything. They are all covered in extremely beneficial microflora and fauna and will keep the whole thing as healthy as possible.

If splitting the shrimp and the fish betweeen the two temporary tanks (which is also a decent idea) then ideally use a mature cycled sponge filter for the 45U. However, if this is not possible then I suspect the current biome in the substrate and covering the hardscape/plants will be enough to nitrify a tank sufficiently for 20 shrimp.

In truth, all of these options could be made to work.

 

[SmartAlec13]

I would put the shrimp in the 45U, recognizing that I would never get all of them back out of it. Then I would put everything else in the 20g for the duration, even though it would be less convenient. As another alternative, I’ve used large Rubbermaid tubs as holding bins. I just sit them on the floor. The sides bow out if they get too full, but I put a bucket of sand or something on each side for support.

Hmmm I didn't really consider splitting them up. Main thing that gives me pause for that idea is I am a bit limited on filter count. Oase 250 is on my 60p, Oase 100 on the 45U. So if I split the livestock between 45U and 20gal, I wouldn't have a filter for the 60p while the new scape is cycling.

Thank you both for the advice. I am leaning towards having all of them in the 45U. It would be small, but I can keep up on water changes for it since its smaller (plus I'll already be doing a ton of water changes for the 60p, so what's one more tank on top of that lol).

I think either way, I am going to get my sponge filter put in this weekend to have it start maturing, so if I NEED to use it I can.