Gravel Vacuums

You mean vac between your weekly WCs?

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Most people with pythons just treat the tank volume beforehand...or immediately afterwards, which I've done on occasion and never had problems...dechlorinator needs time to dissipate anyways.

Bucket vs. python is really a matter of personal preference, when it comes down to it. I can see it being a bit more of a hassle than it's worth on only a single small tank when a 5g is essentially a quick 50% water change.
 
I should have said that sadly I only have a 12 gal tank and I was just wondering if it were possible to vac without pulling the water with it.
Click to expand...

No, there is no device that will "vacuum" the substrate without using tank water to do so.

How do you treat the water as you're putting it in the tank with the python?
Click to expand...

I add the conditioner (and only enough for the volume of fresh water being added) to the tank after I start refilling. With larger tanks this is no problem at all, as the fresh water dissipates with no harm because of the volume, and it takes me up to a minute to squirt in the conditioner. You can actually add several gallons without conditioner at all, in large tanks (say 50g and up), though I don't recommend it. I've never had a problem doing this (adding the conditioner after I start to refill) even in the 10g, though I make sure I get from the faucet to the tank pronto.

Byron.
 
Addlewood said:
I found a guy that made his own airlift vac to remove the grime but leave the water. Take a look and tell me what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5yYY3l-tzQ
Click to expand...

An ingenious device, I suppose...but I can't fathom any reason for going to this length. All fish tanks should receive a weekly water change, of 1/3 to 1/2 the volume. This advice comes from every knowledgeable source so we needn't repeat the benefits. And it is so easy to vacuum the substrate (if necessary) during this and get rid of detritus along with the "old" water. There should be no need to do further substrate cleaning; if there is, it is a sure sign of a problem, whether too any fish for the tank's biology, or overfeeding.
 
I have also wondered about these things. Yes I can understand removing grime with a weekly water change... The way mine is setup I would love to use something like this. Before my water change I'd use the device to get the stuff off the bottom of the tank and throughout my substrate. The water is pulled through the external filter device and all the shmutz is pulled out of it then the water is returned back to the tank. Immediately afterwards I can hook up my drain line to my fx5 and do my water change.

I totally get where he's coming from and I don't think he's looking to not do water changes. He's looking to add this to his regularly scheduled maintenance regime to help keep his tank cleaner.

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
I understand that, I just don't think it's worth buying or making something (unless you just really like to DIY) that really shouldn't be needed. If there's so much detritus that you can't get it all out during the course of changing 25-50% of the water, then that may be a problem, particularly given a tank without much surface area to begin with...

There's nothing inherently wrong with using this device so long as there's that additional exchange of water. IMO might as well keep it as simple as you can :huh:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom