Need To Clean Tank!

[Andreeuh]

I have a 10g that has been getting pretty icky over a period time. The water is clear but there is a lot of left over food, waste, etc on the bottom. I would like to replace the beads and stones in there for some white gravel that I got. I'm not sure what the best way to change the water is though. I really want to change out all the water but I heard that would break down any beneficial bacteria I have goin in there.. and I would have to get 10 gallons of spring water (which I'm fine with) since my tap water is not safe. So would it be better to get the 10gs of spring water and clean the whole thing, or take everything out and siphon as much stuff as I can?

Thanks in advance.

 

[hoppybunn]

I have a 10g that has been getting pretty icky over a period time. The water is clear but there is a lot of left over food, waste, etc on the bottom. I would like to replace the beads and stones in there for some white gravel that I got. I'm not sure what the best way to change the water is though. I really want to change out all the water but I heard that would break down any beneficial bacteria I have goin in there.. and I would have to get 10 gallons of spring water (which I'm fine with) since my tap water is not safe. So would it be better to get the 10gs of spring water and clean the whole thing, or take everything out and siphon as much stuff as I can?

Thanks in advance.

Assuming that you don't have any fish in there, I would just siphon it all out. Getting bottled water is generally not a great idea, as it doesn't have the proper minerals that can be beneficial to fish. I would just set a few pots of water out overnight with some dechlorinator and add it to the tank the next day. You can even boil it if you want to get rid of the hardness in the water. Make sure you have the water ready before you siphon out the old tank water though. Depending on the filter you have, there should be some colonies of beneficial bacteria in your bio section of the filter, and usually the substrate you use on the bottom of the tank has bacteria there too (though as I understand you want to change that). Another thing, you say that you have a lot of left over food and waste on the bottom? Why don't you use a gravel vaccuum? They work wonders for tanks, though with 10 gallons it's hard to get one that doesn't take too much water out at a time.

 

[Andreeuh]

I do have a gravel vaccuum but its hard to use because I have so many plants and caves in there. I suppose I will just take all the stuff out and the siphon it. How long will I have to boil the water for?

 

[hoppybunn]

I do have a gravel vaccuum but its hard to use because I have so many plants and caves in there. I suppose I will just take all the stuff out and the siphon it. How long will I have to boil the water for?

Just a few minutes, as long as you have a rolling boil. You can always remove the plants and caves to vaccuum, just make sure you don't stir the gravel up too much, as you'll have floating waste.

 

[Andreeuh]

So I should siphon it first and then remove the gravel? Because I want to take that gravel (its not really gravel.. beads and stones) out and switch it with actual gravel.

 

[hoppybunn]

So I should siphon it first and then remove the gravel? Because I want to take that gravel (its not really gravel.. beads and stones) out and switch it with actual gravel.

Sounds good. Just remember to wash the gravel really well, or else you'll have a cloudy tank.