I’m having a heck of a time keeping the sand in my 75 gal planted tank clean. It is a finer sand. I’ve used 2 different size pythons but end up pulling more water out then debris…I’ve tried the hover and swirl method but the crap just swirls around and then fall out the end when I move the tube. I’d really rather not change the substrate since I have no where to move the contents of the tank. Should I try a different brand of vac, electric one or whatever? Could I add a couple bags of pebble gravel to make it heavier?? I’m at a loss..
Fine sand vacuuming help.
- Thread starter Nyk0nn
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No, it's really more of practice makes, well, not perfect, but better. Swirl & vac over the surface or swirl vac & dump the bucket sand back in the tank after pouring out most of the funky water. (also a kind of swirl & dump out the sandy water & back into the tank from the bucket). It's all a matter of technique & practice. How deep is your sand? A more narrow vacuum head can help for less suction but also less debris removal. Yeah, a balancing act. It's especially hard to do with "big poop" fish like most any plecos, etc. The poo can outweigh the sand. Small fish = smaller poo & easier vacuuming. I've forgotten your fish...Just some ideas.
This is why I am a coarse pool filter sand/fine gravel user. I know some like finer (usually just a shallow layer) sand, I don't. The whiter the substrate the harder it is to make it look clean.
My best advice, just get used to less than really "clean" substrate & try live plants, they love some poo substrate, lol.
This is why I am a coarse pool filter sand/fine gravel user. I know some like finer (usually just a shallow layer) sand, I don't. The whiter the substrate the harder it is to make it look clean.
My best advice, just get used to less than really "clean" substrate & try live plants, they love some poo substrate, lol.
NoodleCats
AC Members
Narrower tubes hold more suction power, can try a thinner siphon for vacuuming purposes and then use the python for the actual water change
I’m using the small 1 inch narrow python for tight spaces and thought it would give me more suction instead of the 2 inch. I use both.
I have 1 bristle nose pleco in there and a bunch of mollie fry. It’s loaded with plants as well.
I have 1 bristle nose pleco in there and a bunch of mollie fry. It’s loaded with plants as well.
NoodleCats
AC Members
I notice your filtration is only sponge.
While sponge is fantastic biological filtration, for the stock choices, it's not so good at mechanical filtration.
I would suggest actually installing a HOB or canister, and use a powerhead/wave maker to push debris off the sand towards the filter.
While sponge is fantastic biological filtration, for the stock choices, it's not so good at mechanical filtration.
I would suggest actually installing a HOB or canister, and use a powerhead/wave maker to push debris off the sand towards the filter.
As far as I can tell the smaller diameter vacs suck at a similar force to the larger ones or a bit less.
I use the Python Pro Clean Gravel Washer. This works on gravity. Because I have planted tanks and heavily aquascaped pleco tanks, I need to be able to get the vac into tight spaces. So I have two versions of the Pro Clean, I mostly use the Small Tall and then the small which is a shorter tube. The only time I can make this suck up the sand if if I vac. down to the bottom class and do it a few time. this creates a plug of sand going up the tube. Either banging it against the class or pinching the hose makes the sand let go and slide out. I even use this small diameter siphon in an overstocked 125 gal, pleco tank.
https://kensfish.com/collections/si...cts/python-pro-clean-gravel-washer-siphon-kit
I also have a couple 0f these which can suck harder and which allow you to adjust the suction power and it has a squeeze ball starter.
https://kensfish.com/collections/siphon-water-changers/products/fluval-gravel-vac-8-24-inch
Years back for my high tech planted tank I had to vacuum with less force and very methodically slow. I had to suck debris out of dwarf hair grass. I had a couple of H.O.T. Magnums which have and adapter which allws one to connect a standard size gravel vac to the filter intake, I used the micron cart. I used this when I gave hair grass and later baby tears a hair cut. I would snip with one hand and such the snippings with the vac. You can do this with a siphon and bucket but, the filter worked much more effectively.
I use the Python Pro Clean Gravel Washer. This works on gravity. Because I have planted tanks and heavily aquascaped pleco tanks, I need to be able to get the vac into tight spaces. So I have two versions of the Pro Clean, I mostly use the Small Tall and then the small which is a shorter tube. The only time I can make this suck up the sand if if I vac. down to the bottom class and do it a few time. this creates a plug of sand going up the tube. Either banging it against the class or pinching the hose makes the sand let go and slide out. I even use this small diameter siphon in an overstocked 125 gal, pleco tank.
https://kensfish.com/collections/si...cts/python-pro-clean-gravel-washer-siphon-kit
I also have a couple 0f these which can suck harder and which allow you to adjust the suction power and it has a squeeze ball starter.
https://kensfish.com/collections/siphon-water-changers/products/fluval-gravel-vac-8-24-inch
Years back for my high tech planted tank I had to vacuum with less force and very methodically slow. I had to suck debris out of dwarf hair grass. I had a couple of H.O.T. Magnums which have and adapter which allws one to connect a standard size gravel vac to the filter intake, I used the micron cart. I used this when I gave hair grass and later baby tears a hair cut. I would snip with one hand and such the snippings with the vac. You can do this with a siphon and bucket but, the filter worked much more effectively.
I even drilled the hole bigger in the 1 inch python. I added the suction bulb but that should make any difference?
I found when there is more suck, more sand may go up the tube. I do not want that. This is one of the drawback of a fine grained sand. It will easily get sucked up. That is one of the main reasons I chose CaribSea Torpedo Beach. Go to this link and check out sizes of their FW substrates https://caribsea.com/freshwater-substrates/
The other reason I was told by someone who had visited many of the rivers that To
rrpedo beach look most closely to what he has seen in the wild where Altum angels lived.
The other reason I was told by someone who had visited many of the rivers that To
rrpedo beach look most closely to what he has seen in the wild where Altum angels lived.
I used Caribsea as well just didn’t think it was this fine. I don’t take up a lot of sand I end up taking out more water which I don’t get?