aquarium cleaning question

I picked up a two part magnetic glass cleaner which seemed like a great idea. The magnets are glued to the two pieces and each has a rough edge ment to scrub the glass. I wound up tossing it in the trash as it began comming apart and smeared glue on the glass. Disapointing that our manufacturers can't put something together that will last at least through the first use??

Mark
 
I have a gravel vac that I hook up to a garden hose cut in half. the gravel vac hose fits perfectly inside it. I push the hose from my hand held shower head into the other end to fill the hose. I then take the shower hose out, and gravel vac the tank. This gets the suction going for me. When it's time to refill I condition the tank get the water the right temperature, and put the shower hose back into the tub end. It makes water changes on my 3 tanks much easier.
 
I use a regular gravel vacuum and attach to the inside on my 1/2" garden hose and I use the water to water the flowers around the house. It works really well and I don't have to mess with the heavy 5 gallon buckets full of water.
 
ok another dumb newb question.... when you take 50% of the water out for example... do you leave the fish in the tank and then you put the new water in (after its been decholorofied)? Or do you take the fish out.... do you just like... pour the new water in with a bucket? doesnt this make drastic temperature changes?
 
Eheim gravel vac.

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Automatic gravel cleaner

With this battery-operated gravel cleaner (batteries are included), you can clean the floor of your aquarium easily, even between water changes. The power of the device is so designed that dirt is taken up without disturbing the gravel and its purifying bacteria. A filter compartment in the device retains the dirt while letting the water immediately back into the aquarium. The filter element is simple to remove. Do not remove water when using.

A little expensive but this thing cleans as long as you like and goes from tank to tank. Is said to be totaly water proof but i have not tested that and it is only 24" long so larger deeper tanks may not work well. I got mine at petsmart and as i said they are a bit expensive but the convenience was worth it to me.
 
Not sure how big your tank is, but if its small (20gal or less), just use a regular gravel vac and 5gal bucket. If it's larger, get a python!
Keep the fish in the tank, change 20-30% a week (depending on stock). If you're using the bucket way, simply put a bit of Prime in the bucket before you dump it in the tank. If you're filling with a hose (Python), just put some Prime in the tank while filliing.
 
ok another dumb newb question...

we don't have any of those here. ;)

...when you take 50% of the water out for example...

I prefer 20-30%. If it needs more than that. Do it again another day.

... do you leave the fish in the tank...

YES

...then you put the new water in (after its been decholorofied)? do you just like... pour the new water in with a bucket? doesnt this make drastic temperature changes?

You can. And need to be careful and watch the temp. I used to do this with my Python.
Syphon gravel/ remove water.
Dose enough Prime for the whole tank.
Then refil with Python, with 78-80*F water.

I stopped doing it this way, when I walked back into the room one day. And saw a Khuli having fun in the tube. He was dead a few hrs later. Probably done alot of breathing chlorimine!
I suggest removing the vac part while refilling to avoid fish having too much fun for their own good.


Now days...

I fill a 30g rubbermaid trash can with 80*F water. Being circulated by an old PH. Optional, but helps with even temp and getting oxygen into the water.

Then transfer(with another old PH with hose) the water to a 5g bucket for hualing around the house.

Looks like this...
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