Had the tank for about a month now and did my first gravel vac today. I think. I only have a ten gallon tank and was only changing about 20% of the water. Seems like I didn't get a whole lot of waste and debris sucked up before I had sucked out 2 gallons of water! Is that bad? I mean I did get a good bit out, but not as much as I thought I might have time for before I got my water limit.
First gravel vac, did I do it wrong?
- Thread starter redtail
- Start date
I think overall you did fine. After that short of a time having the tank set up, you don't really need to gravel-vac, but it's a good habit to get into, because later on, you SHOULD gravel-vac regularly. So early on, though, you shouldn't have much "gunk" to vac out. IF YOU DO, though, that would be a good sign you're over-feeding.
I'd wait at least a month before vacuuming the gravel (unless you are over feeding.) Let the bacteria establish themselves in the gravel.
Good luck to you!
I'd wait at least a month before vacuuming the gravel (unless you are over feeding.) Let the bacteria establish themselves in the gravel.
Good luck to you!
You can vacuum your gravel as often as you want and it will not affect any estalishing nitrifying bacteria. Ever see fluidized bed filters? In a nutshell, water is pumped through a tube filled with sand and nitrifying bacteria establishes itself on the individual sand grains, providing a very large biofiltration capacity. The insides of those filters can be quite turbulant, probably more turbulant than what a gravel vac can achieve. Of course, those aren't generally used anymore (except in special cases where large biofiltration is a must), because a power outtage can really mess up a fluidized bed filter.
IMO, keep up the good work, the sooner you start using a gravel vac, the more routine it'll become, and it won't be a chore. Vacuuming from the getgo also prevents larger buildups of organic matter in your substrate, which is also a plus for your water quality.
HTH
-Richer
IMO, keep up the good work, the sooner you start using a gravel vac, the more routine it'll become, and it won't be a chore. Vacuuming from the getgo also prevents larger buildups of organic matter in your substrate, which is also a plus for your water quality.
HTH
-Richer
I loooovvvveeee my gravel vaccuum. I use it every time I clean. I just bought a python because I was told it would be better. No way. My gravel cleaner makes cleaning my 72 gallon quick simple done!!!! That being said, you did just fine.
are you saying that a regular gravel cleaner is better than a python? if this is so I wont get one...I've been thinking about it lately.
the small size of the 10 gallon makes it tricky to get much of a vacuuming. What I do is try and "prepare the tank" (move any decorations I need to) before vacuuming. I do weekly vacuums/waterchanges and try to do as big a section each week as I can. I can never vacuum the whole tank each week. Sounds like you're on top of things, a little practice and you'll figure out a system for your tank to get a little more vacuumed before your water gets too low. depending on what fish you have, you can do larger changes if need be. Kyle
Divide your tank and do one section each week frigure out how much you can do during your water change 1/3, 1/4, or 1/2 etc. and then just do a section at a time. the other option is get a vac with a smaller hose, I have found this works quite well. In my 55 I used a 3/8 hose on a small vac, and could get most of the vacumming done in a 20% water change. takes a little longer, but I think it did a better job.