H2O change w/o stirring up the tank?

[carriebourdeau]

Hi-

10g
3 Hatchets
1 glass cat
1 mini algae eater
1 golden mystery snail

It seems I stir up the tank horribly when I do a water change. I have the tank sitting about 3 1/2 ft off the ground on a piece of furniture. I use the Python sypon to get the water out into a 5 Gal bucket as the bucket sits on a chair that is about 2 ft lower than the tank. That goes smoothly.

Then when I'm adding clean water back in, wouldn't I need to get the clean water bucket higher than the tank in order to get the syphon going with clean water from the bucket back into the tank?

Here is the real problem - - Pouring in the water seems to really stir up any fish fecal matter that exists. I was only doing a 50% H2O change 1x/week and a gravel cleaning about 1x/month and when I did clean the gravel I'd do about 1/4 of the gravel using the syphon.

Should I change the following:
1) the way I get clean water back into the tank? (if yes - how?)
2) The frequency or amount of cleaning the gravel?

I'm a little nervous about either sucking up too much of the good bacteria if I overclean the gravel OR causing a mini cycle by stirring up the gravel too much each time I clean.

Am I freaking out for nothing when all that fish poo is floating around my nice "clean" tank? :rolleyes:

Opinions please!??

Thanks!

[nerdyguy83]

If you are getting a lot of fecal matter or whatever stirred up when you put water back in, then I would say you aren't gravel vaccing often enough. I used to do it at every water change, but now I have some ghost shrimp on cleaning duty instead. You aren't going to suck the bacteria out of the gravel, so don't worry about that. Other than cosmetics, having stuff floating in your water for a while is the same as it resting on the bottom. It might even be somewhat better since some will get sucked into your filter.

As a side note, a 20% water change weekly is all that is really necessary. If you are worried about mini-cycles, a 50% change would be your source before sucking up all of your bacteria. Also, I dunno how you figure you clean 1/4 of your gravel, but all I ever did was stick the vac in as far as I could get it in random places throughout the tank and keep it there until the water ran clear.

[carriebourdeau]

HI -
Thanks for the advice. I'm happy to hear I can suck up the gunk each time I clean with the Python. :dance:

To answer your question - I was cleaning the gravel by imagining the tank gravel in quarters from left to right and vacuuming the left side first, then for the next vacuuming, I'd do the next 1/4 section (just approximately) then with each cleaning I'd move across to the next section to the right and then start over again. But I'd feel much better vacuuming the whole thing so I can get more of the poo out.

Now that you say it - it makes sense - floating around or resting on the bottom is all the same.

Thanks again!

[Jericho]

When I vac I hit the whole bottom of the tank and I do it every time. I have found that for me the poo seems to gather at the base of the plants and decor. Find out where it gathers for you and hit those areas hard. It will not hurt your tank to gravel vac every time, it will only help.

[TheZoo]

As far as getting the water back in gently, I try to scoop or pour it in over a tall hard decoration, like one of the rocks. Or in the area of the filter return.

[carriebourdeau]

THANKS people! :)

I think I'll do a vacuuming tonight! Love this site for all the help!!!

[Jericho]

Also for putting water back if you have a HOB filter just poar the watter into the filter and let it flow out, just do it slow or you will overflow.

[Roan Art]

Hrm. If you are using a Python to take the water out, why aren't you using it to put the water back in? You don't need a bucket.

Hook it to the tap, get the water to the right temperature and a medium to low flow, add conditioner to the tank, put the Python tube in over a rock or something for the water to hit against and turn the flow to "out".

Or is there another reason why you are using a bucket?

Roan

[Jericho]

Hrm. If you are using a Python to take the water out, why aren't you using it to put the water back in? You don't need a bucket.

Hook it to the tap, get the water to the right temperature and a medium to low flow, add conditioner to the tank, put the Python tube in over a rock or something for the water to hit against and turn the flow to "out".

Or is there another reason why you are using a bucket?

Roan


I have a feeling that they are not using a python that goes to a faucet since they are saying that they are using a bucket to remove water.

[Roan Art]

I have a feeling that they are not using a python that goes to a faucet since they are saying that they are using a bucket to remove water.
You could very well be right. We need to find out ;)


carriebourdeau:
A Python and a syphon are two different things. A Python is a brand name for an "automatic syphon" that hooks up to your tap and sucks the water out of your tank. When you reverse the flow, it puts tap water into your tank.

A manual syphon will require a bucket to drain the water into, unless you have one long enough to reach the sink :)

So, what is it that you have?

[TheZoo]

Just to make it even more confusing, the syphon i use is made by python but is only the flexible tube and a rigid one attatched. no faucet hook-ups. I bought it on sale, came with some sample products. I dont know if its really sold as just a replacement part for the whole system or what, but I do have a python...!

[Jericho]

Thezoo no problem, it sounds like a standard gravel vac and that is not a problem. Like stated you can either find an ornament to pour water on, pour water in a HOB filter, use smaller containers and make more trips to pour the water in, or if you can get your bucket on something higher use the python to put the water back into the tank the same way you pulled it out.

[Roan Art]

TheZoo,

Get the rest of the Python if you can. It's awesome! No carrying buckets or any of that stuff. Waterchanges will take you half the time they do now.

I would die without mine :)

Roan

[Needeles]

Hello, I am just reading through the forums and have noticed alot of people talking about the Python. My question is where can I myself pickup this type of system and how much is it normally as I think it might be alittle better for me. I use a normal gravel vac to get the water out and most of the time it works like crap. I use it the way I am supposed to but it never wants to start so I have to manually start it by sucking on the tube alittle. This really sucks (No pun intended) as I sometimes get the water in my mouth. I have a Petco, Petsmart, Wal-Mart & a small Pet Parade in my area if this helps. Thanks

[carriebourdeau]

Hi-
I have a sypon made by Python. Sorry for the confusion. Mine doesn't reach the tap.

It is only a 10g. And I can't get my bucket higher than the tank - too high and too heavy even for 5g fresh water. I work out all the time and thought I was strong until I tried to hold 5 gal of water at chest level while it syponed back into the tank! :thud:

But I gotta say - after cleaning all the gravel just now and pouring , <gently> the water back in over a fixture, it looks marvelous!!!! I feel so ....so...clean...!!! after having cleaned out most of the poo! HORRAY! :clap:

[twig]

I just bought a Python and it didn't reach the tap either. It was crazy! I went to a local fish store (Aqua Tropical) and bought myself some extender tubing and used a flural attacher thingy.

It's working really well, now.

When I first set it up though, I didn't push the added tubing into the little extender peice tight enough and it exploded sending water everywhere .. Lol ... but now it works nicely...

They sold me a foot of tubing for 2 bucks ... >>;