Cleaning up fish poop
- Thread starter agp
- Start date
One of two ways. Either get heavier substrate, or don't hold the gravel vac (tube thing) so close to the bottom of the tank. I just wave the gravel vac a couple inches from the bottom in my tanks with light sand, that gets the poop to float up and in to the tube.
Don't be afraid to disturb the top layer of substrate a bit while vacuuming. Generally, even if sand/gravel is sucked up into the siphon tube, it will fall out again if you keep the tube vertical while pulling it farther from the substrate. Shaking the tube a bit will help. The debris should continue whisking up, up and away! 
I have this issue too. A few inches away and it doesn't get sucked up - too close and up comes some of the sand. I just can't win!
Are you going to get more plants? I see from your signature you have anubias.
While I try and suck up as much junk as possible, I really don't worry about it too much as I have plants - They are happy to get the fertalizer.
While I try and suck up as much junk as possible, I really don't worry about it too much as I have plants - They are happy to get the fertalizer.
Many people "cap" eco-complete with another type of substrate for this very reason. Go get some sand or gravel.
Get some MTS. Then you can go to bed with poop all over the tank, then come back to what looks like new substrate.
I actually suck the gravel half way up the siphon tube and twirl it until the gravel gives way that helps to loosen up alot of the debris and poop from the bottom and then I just siphon the water. I use the siphon tube all the way around the gravel doing the same thing each time helps alot. I just don't let the gravel go all the way up. Hope this helps.
Put your finger over the end of the hose to control water flow running through the vacuum. The gravel will fall back down on it's own with the water flow stopped. Release your finger to restore flow and repeat as necessary.