Difference between Syphon and Gravel Vac?
- Thread starter boofish2
- Start date
A gravel vacuum is just a siphon. Mine has a wider, stiffer short length of tubing on the end of the flexible tubing. When you use it, be sure to push the end down into the gravel a bit though, you'll be surprised how much more gunk you get out.
Yup. And, if your tank is large, you dont have to clean the whole tank floor at once, just get to it eventually.
OK, I have a 25 gal. and do 25% water chang 1-2x a week. The water comes out so fast I wouldn't be able to vac the whole bottom at once -- then there's the whole removing of decor thing.... do you remove or just go around? (I feel like we're talking about vacuuming the living room or something LOL!)
If your gravel vac is syphoning out too much water at once, switch to a gravel vac that has a smaller diameter.
You'll eventually want to clean under the decor but you don't have to clean the entire tank at once, especially since you're already doing it 1-2 times a week. Clean the open areas regularly and like once a month, move the decor around and clean under them.
You'll eventually want to clean under the decor but you don't have to clean the entire tank at once, especially since you're already doing it 1-2 times a week. Clean the open areas regularly and like once a month, move the decor around and clean under them.
Also try raising the level of your waste water bucket. Put it up on a stool or something. THat might slow the flow a little.
One other thing to keep in mind, a lot of fish like to hide in/around/under your ornaments, so usually fish poo accumulates most under and around them. When I vacuum my gravel in my 55, I move the ornaments around so that I can get all of the gravel underneath the ornaments... and the crud that comes up from those spots is easily 3-5 times as bad as the edges and around the ornament. Another trick that might come in handy is to either use your left hand to pinch down on the hose going to your bucket a little bit to slow the water down (I do this when moving ornaments to siphon under them so I don't have to re-start the siphon) or to get something that will clamp onto it to try to narrow the diameter of part of the hose. Remember, a system of pipes can only flow as much water as its narrowest point.