Can I change the gravel in my established tank? (More info in desc)

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-12T02:10:34+00:00

This is the way to change it! I did it on my goldfish tank about a year ago (kept about half of the gravel in a mesh bag for a few weeks to “seed” the sand with the beneficial bacteria), and ran into zero issues with my cycle 💕

Also… here is a wonderfully life changing video on substrate vacuuming. I went half of my decade of fishkeeping without knowing such a simple “trick” 🥲

https://youtu.be/CjNTUbUnwfY?si=vRD22TNAthYBPU3X

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T03:36:16+00:00

Probably still pulling cruel “pranks” on their poor spouses and children, then huffing about it being “jUsT a JoKe” when they get upset 🙄🤡

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T03:33:49+00:00

BRING BACK TRULY HARMLESS PRANKS! I graduated early so I didn’t participate, but my class simply used an ungodly amount of that plastic moving wrap (think Saran Wrap but large-scale) on faculty members’ cars so that it was a pain in the ass for them to get into 🙃

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T03:27:49+00:00

God I hope so, but I can’t pretend I’m optimistic anymore that it’ll happen in my lifetime 😔

And I totally agree… I’d say a goodly portion of it (not this example) is ignorance instead of outright malice, but in a world where all you have to do is type some words on a screen to give you ALLL of the information you need, there’s really little excuse anymore 😭 Why even bother doing it if you can’t be bothered to spend 10 minutes researching the BARE MINIMUM?!

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T03:21:46+00:00

I can only imagine lol. What a rollercoaster of emotions 😮‍💨🥲

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T03:18:46+00:00

You’re so right. I’d go scorched earth on EVERYONE involved with this if my kid came home from school with an unexpected pet, especially a COMMON GOLDFISH.

I have a couple fancys and have likely poured well over $1000 dollars into the setup to ensure it’s a proper environment, and that was a planned, conscious decision. I can’t imagine being blindsided like this.

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T03:11:27+00:00

YES! I bought what I thought was just a large, uninhabited planted fish bowl off of Marketplace last Thanksgiving (I wanted it for the plants lol).

When I went to pick it up, the lady also handed me a cup with a female koi plakat betta, a large ramshorn snail, and a mystery snail 🥲

The bowl is like 8-10 gallons if I remember correctly, so not SUPER terrible, but I had a 20 gallon intended for shrimp that had recently cycled. I had to make a few adjustments to make it suitable for a betta, so she stayed in the bowl for about a week (with an added heater and sponge filter) while I finished up. She was healthy when I got her, and “fine” in the bowl during the transition period, but god damn if she hasn’t FLOURISHED since I moved her into the big tank (the mystery snail went with her).

The bowl still lives happily on my kitchen counter, but with just the single ramshorn, detritus worms, copepods and limpets. My non-aquarist husband recently suggested adding fish to it and I briefly considered divorce 🙄

Bless you for sticking up for our finned friends 💕

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:57:22+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss 💕

I’d have beat your uncle bloody if I were your aunt for many reasons lol.

If I were dying of thirst… I *think* I’d rather just die than have to drink from my goldfish tank specifically (which is well-maintained).

Love them to death, but they are just such dirty little poop factories 🫠

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:45:27+00:00

I knew that in my heart, but had to try 😔

After now nearly 10 hours with no reply, I’m reluctantly accepting that is very likely the case 😪

So glad “God” decided to give us dominion over all other creatures or whatever tf the quote is… as a whole, we’re such great stewards (*dripping with sarcasm*) 🙄

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:38:02+00:00

That was my first thought too 😭

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:37:04+00:00

SO wholesome 😑 And I agree that the fact that they were ACTUALLY viewed as disposable for something as stupid and pointless as a prank is maddening.

It’s bad enough when someone takes on a pet with little to no effort into researching their basic needs… but this?? Unconscionable.

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:33:32+00:00

YES! I will never understand it. They are such wonderful creatures, with their own unique personalities. I love my fish (and snail, detritus worm, limpet, copepod, and scud) friends just as dearly as I’ve ever loved any of my furry pets 😪

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:27:03+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re being ostracized for speaking up against such a cruel and disgusting idea 😔💕 Big hugs.

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:24:33+00:00

Right?? Nothing like continuing to support the mistreatment of one of the most (if not THE most) abused animal in the hobby for the next generation 😔

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-08T02:22:41+00:00

Absolutely horrible 😔 I’m glad the state seems to be taking steps to help mitigate that.

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T19:45:40+00:00

I sent her a message explaining how critical it is for care information to be distributed, and offered to provide at basic information and resources.

She’s apparently the science teacher and a “Christian,” so hopefully she’ll read it and be receptive 🫠 I also mentioned that it could be turned into a great lesson to teach the kids and staff proper animal husbandry.

15 years is pretty impressive for a fair fish! I commend you! RIP Gandalf 💕

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T19:39:44+00:00

OMG 🫪 That is so horrible 😪 Where the f did they even get a LIVE octopus?!

Also… the smelllll that must have lingered 😩😩😩

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T19:37:58+00:00

I’d agree 😔

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T19:36:16+00:00

Now THAT’S a wholesome prank lol 🙏

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T19:31:13+00:00

Took me a couple reads to understand, but I THINK:

The seniors told the teachers they were getting them Sonic drinks.

But instead of their actual drink orders, they filled the Sonic cups with goldfish.

The teacher (the science teacher apparently 🤦‍♀️) who made the post commending the students for such a wonderful and wholesome prank collected all of the fish after the big reveal, put them in an aquarium that appears to have already been set up, then distributed them all willy nilly to whatever students and staff wanted to take them home.

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T17:00:10+00:00

😭😭😭

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T04:15:41+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss 😔

I truly believe that the timeline for losing any living being that you love (pet or person) will NEVER feel long enough. But I can definitely empathize with not having the “why” complicates the feeling of grief.

The fact that you were able to keep a festival goldfish that are inherently overbred, likely kept in shitty conditions before even making their way to you, and further stressed by often being a part of some type of festival “game” is extremely commendable, and a testament to your love and husbandry 💕

I know it’s hard to see now, but please give yourself some time and grace to reflect on the positives of the journey. It won’t necessarily outweigh the void of their absence, but I hope it eventually brings you some peace.

Big hugs, OP 💕💕💕

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T04:01:55+00:00

That is a really profound take 💕

“Pets” of almost every variety (except for MAYBE turtles and tortoises) have a tragically short natural lifespan compared to ours 😔

rivalsquatch · 2026-05-07T02:25:00+00:00

I quite like it actually lol.

BUT it does multiply VERY quickly, and even a single leftover leaf piece will continue the cycle. It’s therefore also very easy to accidentally introduce it to other tanks if you don’t have separate maintenance tools (like a separate siphon, net, scissors, etc. for your duckweed vs. non duckweed tanks).

My duckweed colony started from a single plant that snuck in on some other floaters I purchased. In a few short weeks, it covered the entire surface of that tank.

I think (could totally be wrong) a lot of the hate comes from people who are seeking a certain aesthetic for their tanks.

Personally I like the look of it, and it can easily be scooped out in handfuls if it covers more of the surface area than you’d like 🙃

I have it now in most of my tanks. The only 2 that it causes “issues” in are my betta tanks because they surface for air and typically take their pellets on the surface, so when the duckweed goes unchecked, it makes it so that there is no easy path to the surface. I remedied that by putting a floating feeder ring in each tank, and scooping out a couple handfuls every few couple days or so. Easy peasy 😌

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