aquarium cleaning question

[tszabo86]

What do you guys use to vacuum the gravel and where can i buy that device?

 

[tszabo86]

oh... and i was at petsmart yestarday and noticed they have aquarium salt in each of their freshwater tanks... is this necessary?

 

[Flying_Diamond]

buy a python. it'll be well worth it in the long run. =]

and no, salt is not necessary nor would i recommend it.

 

[tanker]

I have a DIY type of gravel vac.---Hard-Plastic tube suck into a rubber hose.

NO---salt is not needed nor recommended.

 

[tszabo86]

yeah thats wierd... they had salt in ALL their freshwater and stickers on the tanks saying "Petsmart uses and recommends freshwater aquarium salt" i was kinda puzzled lol

 

[Flying_Diamond]

my petco is the same way. i think they dose salt in small amounts just to keep as much disease out of their tanks as possible.

 

[SMinNC]

Python! > > > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=17879
Thats were I purchase most of my stuff.

..................

"Petsmart uses and recommends freshwater aquarium salt"

I can see a retailer using it. Their moving fish in n out, changing the bio-load and stressing alot of fish hourly.

And they also recommend and sell to whoever "non-aquatic" plants. :huh:

Get your recommendations from places like this forum, where people aren't trying to sell you something. As in just plain ol something.
Then go buy from where evers.

 

[Wycco]

Yeah, Petsmart recommend it because they sell it. Freshwater fish do not need salt.

 

[SMinNC]

Oh yea. And for really good gravel cleaning. Or as long as you feel like cleaning.

You can get one of these... http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/214125/product.web

It fit the Intake on magnums...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3580+3597&pcatid=3597
or
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3580+3595&pcatid=3595

and/or any other intake of the same size.

The hot 250 magnum works nice with it.
Hangs on the side. Very portable.
Handy off/on. When you suck up something you didn't intend to.

Can be used in between cleaning, like a permanent filter. Dubba duty!

One of these(or any 'ol cheap similar) would work good on the end of the connector.
====================

And yea, still gonna have the Pythin around for the actual water change.

 

[coach_z]

i just use a cheapo gravel vac that drains into a bucket