I'm looking for a good but cheap gravel vac. that will let me suck out the grime from the fish but allow me to put the water right back in the tank as I go. The only way I have to do it right now is to pump the water and grime into a bucket and then pouring it back in with the fish net to catch the grime, which is difficult, time consuming and messy.
Gravel Vacuums
- Thread starter Addlewood
- Start date
Why not use fresh water? I mean assuming you do water changes, clean at the same time you are removing old water to be replaces with treated fresh water. If you have plants it will replenish nutrients they use as well.
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Adding to the previous two posts, you could get a python or one of its generic equals, remove the grime along with water, then replace with new water and dechlor. all with the same equipment. The python was one of the best inventions to hit the hobby in a long time.
Mark
Mark
really??
I have several 20's in my fish room along with 29's.. I use a python on them all
it still avoids the 'bucket brigade' mess ..
but that said
Is the OP looking for a filter that reuses the water?? pulls out sludge..etc..
personally I wouldn't recommend these filters as they don't help with fresh water replacement... and will not help reduce much of the TDS (by doing routine water changes.)
there are filters like this on the market but with normal tank maint. they are not needed.
let me rephrase,
it sounds like this is a single tank, I would not use a python for a single, small fish tank; I find it less work to siphon into a couple of buckets and then refill using buckets or buckets and a quart soup container than I do to unroll the python, perform the water change, drain all the water from the python and put it away after emptying the water from it. If I'm doing multiple tanks the python is most likely to be used. In this case, only a single tank was mentioned.
something powered that will handle gravel vacuuming without changing water..... I'd likely go with the Cobalt power gravel cleaner (linked) or a Magnum filter (HOT or Canister) with the available gravel vac attachment, I wouldn't waste my money on one of the air or battery powered ones.
On the initial question, I agree with everyone else. You should vacuum the substrate during the weekly water change, replacing the removed water with fresh, conditioned of course (dechlorinator, or whatever you need in your situation). The "old" water is not good for fish, no matter how much detritus.
On the discussion of python vs buckets and tank size, I can see value in either method. I now use my Python on all tanks, including my 10g and 20g, though I must be very careful filling as they fill very fast. And I have a 75-foot Python because the laundry room tap is at the other end of the house from the fish room. Sometimes I end up almost jogging. I used to use a pail on the 10g, but gave that up after surgery last year when I couldn't lift it, and now I am used to the Python even on this tank.
Byron.
On the discussion of python vs buckets and tank size, I can see value in either method. I now use my Python on all tanks, including my 10g and 20g, though I must be very careful filling as they fill very fast. And I have a 75-foot Python because the laundry room tap is at the other end of the house from the fish room. Sometimes I end up almost jogging. I used to use a pail on the 10g, but gave that up after surgery last year when I couldn't lift it, and now I am used to the Python even on this tank.
Byron.
