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!

 

[techman81]

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!