so that all the debris goes into the filter and i can take a long time to do a through vaccuum then after i can clean the filter, and take out how much ever water i need to and replace with clean?
good idea?
good idea?
plugging vaccuum to filter
- Thread starter CHINABOY1021
- Start date
CHINABOY1021,
That's probably not a good idea. I wouldn't use your filter in such a manner. It's probably asking for trouble.
What kind of filter do you intend to use? What if the vaccuum picks up gunk and it gets caught up in the filter's motor? I've always found the normal suction of the siphon more than adequate. If you are worried about the flow rate of your siphon, you can get another siphon with a smaller diameter tube, or you can learn to partially cover the end of the tube (where the water comes out) with your thumb so you can regulate the flow rate, thus giving you more time to do a thorough job of cleaning.
That's probably not a good idea. I wouldn't use your filter in such a manner. It's probably asking for trouble.
What kind of filter do you intend to use? What if the vaccuum picks up gunk and it gets caught up in the filter's motor? I've always found the normal suction of the siphon more than adequate. If you are worried about the flow rate of your siphon, you can get another siphon with a smaller diameter tube, or you can learn to partially cover the end of the tube (where the water comes out) with your thumb so you can regulate the flow rate, thus giving you more time to do a thorough job of cleaning.
thanks for the input
my main purpose is to remove little water but clean a lot of surface gravel area.
if i have a heavily planted tank, i wouldnt want to rush the vaccuuming to distrub the water and uproot plants, yet i dont want to be left with 40% of the water by the time im done.
my main purpose is to remove little water but clean a lot of surface gravel area.
if i have a heavily planted tank, i wouldnt want to rush the vaccuuming to distrub the water and uproot plants, yet i dont want to be left with 40% of the water by the time im done.
The best way to clean gravel is to do it in sections. For example, one week you do one fifth of the tank, the next week you do another, and so on. Otherwise you will lose beneficial bacteria in the gravel. I actually do use Rometiklan's idea of regulating the flow by covering the end with my thumb, and it works well for me. But like I say, dont over do it on the gravel cleaning.
HOT Magnums can be purchased with an attachment that allows you to do exactly this: vacuum the tank using the filter. Your idea isn't that crazy... the folks at Marineland had it, too, and went with it!
Personally, I never understood why you'd want to fill your filter with crud by vacuuming into it. I'd much rather change water (which can't be done too much, IMO) and vacuum at the same time.
Jim
Personally, I never understood why you'd want to fill your filter with crud by vacuuming into it. I'd much rather change water (which can't be done too much, IMO) and vacuum at the same time.
Jim
I agree as well. Removing the solids will help water quality, but it won't replace the minerals and such that help provide stability for the system (pH, KH, ect), nor will it impact the dissolved wastes. Those only happen with removal and replacement of water volume.
If you are having problem cleaning the full substrate in one go, I would advise cleaning more often to reduce the build up of wastes, or to do two water changes--ie, vaccum, add water, vaccum again, add water. Won't hurt the fish, and will be better in the long run than inadequate cleaning or insufficient volume replacement.
If you are having problem cleaning the full substrate in one go, I would advise cleaning more often to reduce the build up of wastes, or to do two water changes--ie, vaccum, add water, vaccum again, add water. Won't hurt the fish, and will be better in the long run than inadequate cleaning or insufficient volume replacement.
the reason why i want "crud" going into my filter is because i want clear water (debris free wise) to come back out. then later i will remove pure water, with no debris left (all in filter) so i can control the amount i take out. then i will take out all the debris out from the filter (where i can take my time).
like i said, its hard for me to take my time carefully vaccuuming my gravel because by the time i'm done, i will lose so much water that my HOT filter will stop working. water level below the intake tube.
OrionGirl: your vaccuum,add water, vaccuum concept is similar to my vaccuum, debris free water comes back out of filter, vaccuum more, more water from filter.
of course i will remove water itself to reduce the disolved chemicals and stuff.
like i said, its hard for me to take my time carefully vaccuuming my gravel because by the time i'm done, i will lose so much water that my HOT filter will stop working. water level below the intake tube.
OrionGirl: your vaccuum,add water, vaccuum concept is similar to my vaccuum, debris free water comes back out of filter, vaccuum more, more water from filter.
of course i will remove water itself to reduce the disolved chemicals and stuff.
I turn off my power filters when doing a water change/vacuuming. I regularly change 50% of the water, so the intake tube is high & dry. After refilling the tank, the filters generally restarts without any intervention; at worse, I have to pour a couple of cups of water in to prime them.
What you're describing will work, but you're doubling the amount of work you need to do. You still have to change water, and if your substrate is so dirty that it requires that much vacuuming, you probably need to change more water than you currently do.
The bottom line: it's your time, but what you propose isn't the most efficient way to clean the tank.
Jim
What you're describing will work, but you're doubling the amount of work you need to do. You still have to change water, and if your substrate is so dirty that it requires that much vacuuming, you probably need to change more water than you currently do.
The bottom line: it's your time, but what you propose isn't the most efficient way to clean the tank.
Jim