How often can I vacuum?

[ET1]

The two Dwarf Gourami's in my tank poop ALOT. I try to be conservative with my feedings but two days after I vaccuum the gravel there will be what seems like a lot of poop laying on the bottom again. I do 40% water changes by vacuuming the gravel every 7 days and rinse out the filtre media at that time. How often can I vacuum the gravel without upsetting the bacteria there too much? Also, I see a product called Waste Control in my LFS. Is this effective and would it have a negative effect on my fish? I prefer to put as little as necessary in the way of chemicals into the tank.

 

[Rbishop]

I vac at each water change. I do not overfeed, but have cichlids that just love to keep me occupied.

The snake oils they sell to minimize your water changes and maintenance are a total waste of your money, thus preventing you from upgrading to bigger and more tanks later. :clap:

 

[Needeles]

How often can I vacuum the gravel without upsetting the bacteria there too much?

The bacteria should be fine. It takes alot more then the gravel vac to pull it up usally. I myself vac every week while I do my water changes.

Also, I see a product called Waste Control in my LFS. Is this effective and would it have a negative effect on my fish?

As stated above don't waste your money on it. What does it really do is the thing to ask yourself. No matter what, waste needs to be removed from the tank. Think about this for a second, does this stuff make the fish just lower the amount of waste they give out and if it does how is that going to effect the fish by keeping the waste in the fish.

Just something to think about.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I have used a waste control product from fritz industries it too did not work. You best bet is to just vac at each water change. I vac and do 50% water changes weekly. Most of the benificial bacteria is in the filters.

 

[ET1]

As mentioned, I do vacuum with my weekly water change. But what I'm wondering is, is it alright to vacuum 2 or 3 times a week, just enough to pick up the poop. I would rather not use the chemicals. They'll sell you anything at the LFS.

 

[mostlycichlids]

You will probabally be ok but its probabally not necessary. As long as the fish dont seem to stressed I would try to keep it to once in between regular cleanings.

 

[guppygal]

As mentioned, I do vacuum with my weekly water change. But what I'm wondering is, is it alright to vacuum 2 or 3 times a week, just enough to pick up the poop. I would rather not use the chemicals. They'll sell you anything at the LFS.

I have a tendency to vac more than once a week because I see all the gook tha accumulates in just a couple of days. I have never gone 7 days YET without doing a water change and vaccuming. So I have been doing 2 or 3. But it is necessary because all my readings are good. I have been told, I may stress my fish if I do wc too often.

guppy gal
10g
3 male gupps
1 dwarf powder blue gourami

 

[IceH2O]

I think it would be okay for a couple of middle week cleanings if you just skim the top and only do the deep gravel vaccuuming once a week.

That way it looks good and you're not going to stress over if you're sucking up the bacteria.

 

[Needeles]

I think it would be okay for a couple of middle week cleanings if you just skim the top and only do the deep gravel vaccuuming once a week.

That way it looks good and you're not going to stress over if you're sucking up the bacteria.

This would be the best way to do it if your going to. This will remove the top layer of waste and at the same time making the work itself slightly easier for you.

Also try cutting back alittle more on your feedings. Try to feed the fish half of what you do right now. If you feed 2x a day with say 2 pinches of flakes go with 2x a day and only 1 pinch or flakes. I don't know if you feed flakes or what but I think you get the idea.

 

[ET1]

Thanks all. I appreciate your response and opinions. Nice tanks, by the way IceH. Is your substrate sand? It looks so beautiful and natural! I bet you have happy fish!