Hoovering under the couch...

[SidTheSquid]

Hi, Everyone!

This is going to be a real beginner's question about tank maintenance which I'd appreciate your help in answering.

I've been inspired by George Farmer's, terrific looking, White Cloud Mountain Minnow biotope, in the December 2009 issue of Practical Fishkeeping magazine (a UK publication), so I'm going to have a go at it as my first "proper" aquarium.

I have a 30"x12"x12" tank (84 litres) with a 500 litres/hour internal filter - and a big pile of rocks.

I'm sorry this question is going to be so basic but having read that, once the aquarium has been set up, you should try to disturb your fish's home as little as possible I am unsure as to how to go about vacuuming the floor of the tank (sand & pea gravel under and around the larger rocks and stones, as per the article) without moving or removing the rocks to get underneath them. As you can see from George's article, there are quite a few involved...

Originally, I was thinking of an under-gravel filter with a power head, to create the recommended water-flow scenario, but a bit of web-surfing has advised me that rocks on top of an under-gravel filter will prevent it from working properly as their weight creates stagnant areas.

So, what are your tips on how to vacuum such a tank, where the vacuum's head will not reach in-between the rocks and where there are large areas, under rocks, where waste might collect and which cannot be reached without, presumably, removing and rebuilding the decor each time?

Would a "powerful external filter", which George refers to in the article, remove the need for vacuuming, altogether?

I have not yet started construction so would really appreciate any advice or tips you can pass along, at this stage.

Slainte,

Stephen.

 

[Chrisinator]

Vacuuming and water changes are always necessary to keep fish health optimal. I have the same problem as you, since I have rock work in my 10G and it's a small tank and I cant' really move around it. What I do is get some sort of chop stick and stir up the area where it is so some movement passes.

If your too worried about things staying where they are, consider getting a Powerhead. Point it towards the spot where there is least water movement. It's basically a undergravel filter, without the undergravel-filter part.

I don't think undergravel filters are that good since Hang-On-the-back (HOB) filters and Canister filters work much better in a tank like that.

Good luck! By the way, check out the Meteor Minnows. Basically a long-finned variety of White Clouds.

 

[bgcoop8784]

there's really no way to get around waste collecting around and under rocks, vacuming is a must, and i'd stay away from undergravel filtration, really easy for waste to build up under it and hard to clean. I'd get an aqua clear hang on back and just weekly gravel vac and water change and you should be fine, the waste around the rocks should be minimum, just every few months move the rocks and vac under them.

 

[Sounguru]

I only move my rock when I have too and I seem to have no problems. I have tanks where the rocks or wood haven't moved in over a year and no losses. Now when they have been in place that long you will have a mess when you do move them but I only do that when resetting anyway.

 

[SidTheSquid]

Thanks for your input Chris, BG, & Sounguru. Sound advice on putting the fishes interests first.

It looks like I'll just have to move the rocks around every now and again, to keep the aquarium healthy, so I may try a revised version of George's idea to make life easier.

I managed to find a small image of the aquarium in the article (see below). It's a beauty for a cheap newbie tank, don't you think. I thoroughly recommend this magazine to anyone who has not come across it before. Fascinating!

To elaborate, the main reason I am concerned about moving the rocks is that I hope that they will, eventually, be covered with algae to provide a food source for some Hillstream Loaches (Beaufortia kweichowensis) which I intend to keep in this cold-water tank, along with the WCMM's (Tanichthys albonubes). I don't suppose I'll do too much damage if I'm quick and handle them gently.