I use the Python for my other two tanks and I love it, but I think it would be way too powerful for cleaning the 5 1/2 gal. How do you clean yours?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Best way to clean a 5 1/2 gallon?
- Thread starter Tinajo
- Start date
if you are worried about the python being too powerful, i would use some airline tubing. sure, it takes a bit longer, but you have more control over the water flow.
yup, although because you have to vigorously shake the gravity vac up and down, sometimes it's hard to get the water going in such a small tank. You can either buy one with a small cylinder or start it up orally... just watch out for a mouth full of tank water. 
Okay, this is a total newbie question, but with a simple gravel vac do you have to prime it with your mouth? fish water, ewww
Okay, this is a total newbie question, but with a simple gravel vac do you have to prime it with your mouth? fish water, ewww
lol, i guess we posted at the same time,,,,
I used to start it orally (how rude!) but I got fairly sick after doing it once so I got a gravel vac which dosen't seem to work...
Okay, this is a total newbie question, but with a simple gravel vac do you have to prime it with your mouth? fish water, ewww
Just get a syringe (one like you use to give a pet liquid meds orally, or a simple irrigation syringe) that you can stick in the end of the tubing and use it to start the suction. It'll do the job fine. No water in the mouth. And gravity will do the rest!
Okay, this is a total newbie question, but with a simple gravel vac do you have to prime it with your mouth? fish water, ewww
No, you can get the suction going with a turkey baster or infant nasal aspirator. You shouldn't use your mouth.
Okay, this is a total newbie question, but with a simple gravel vac do you have to prime it with your mouth? fish water, ewww
If you are that grossed out about putting perfectly drinkable water in your mouth then you dont need to be raising fish. Im not trying to sound off kilter or mean, its just that the fish water you are taking OUT of the aquarium is perfectly drinkable. The only reason we change it is so freaquently in an established aquarium is to keep the polution level down. Once you get a poluted tank, the tank water will usualy start taking on some colors that are unacceptable. Most city tap waters have some sort of polution in them that is off or discoloring. (smells funny, or is brown when it first comes out of the tap for the first 5 seconds or so) So it realy isnt that gross. Remember, its been biologicly, mechanicly, and chemicly filtered to help keep it clean. We change the water so that it will be emaculate.