Tank Maintenance.

[Fwapp]

Hi Everyone,

I've looked through the forums for specific advice regarding tank maintenance. Basically, what do people do?

My tank is currently pretty clean, but understand that apart from cleaning the external glass, weekly water changes and feeding the fish I should be doing more such as.

Monthly - cleaning the filter sponge (in tank water)
cleaning the impeller.

Cleaning the substrate, but how often/how?

Anything else?

Thanks for any advice, and perhaps the results could be made into a sticky?

 

[kris-b-]

I do weekly water changes using a gravel vac which cleans the poop out of the gravel as it removes the water. Once a month I remove all the poo and stuff from the filter media in tank water. That's about it!

 

[Fwapp]

I do weekly water changes using a gravel vac which cleans the poop out of the gravel as it removes the water. Once a month I remove all the poo and stuff from the filter media in tank water. That's about it!

Thanks for the reply,

What gravel vac do you use, and how do you use it? It may seem obvious, but having never used one, I'm a slight loss!

 

[kris-b-]

I use a Hagen Gravel Vac (click here and scroll down) You just shake it up and down to get the suction going and once it is you just lift the gravel with the tube and allow the gravel to fall back down and the poop should get sucked up through the tube.

 

[Fwapp]

Thanks.

/Fwapp gets ready to plunder the joint account..... again!!

 

[kris-b-]

The gravel vacs don't cost that much and they come in all different sizes depending on the size tank you have but they are easy to use and really do get rid of a lot of poop!

 

[IceH2O]

I find shaking it up and down doesn't work so well in a long tank.I have to actually suck on the hose to get it started.Yes I have gotten fish water in my mouth,not that bad tasting actually.JK

I haven't seen anyone mention doing water tests.Its always a good idea to know the levels of your PH,Ammonia,Nitrites and Nitrates.Any of these being to high is harmful to your fish,except PH unless your PH is 8 and you have fish that prefer 7.

Ammonia should be 0
Nitrites should be 0
Nitrates should be 10-20

 

[morgan]

Hi, I bought a new gravel vac the other day as I have a bigger tank now. It cost £4.99 from a chain petstore. You can buy them online but for one item the p&p isn't worth it. IMO.

 

[AncientMariner]

I do weekly water changes using a gravel vac which cleans the poop out of the gravel as it removes the water. Once a month I remove all the poo and stuff from the filter media in tank water. That's about it!

Thanks for the reply,

What gravel vac do you use, and how do you use it? It may seem obvious, but having never used one, I'm a slight loss!

I would highly recommend the 'Syphon Python' it is absolutely superb. Do a google search on this product. So easy to use & very quick. Gravel vac & water change in one move. No buckets required!!

 

[kris-b-]

They are ok if you have a sink near to your fish tank!

 

[AncientMariner]

They are ok if you have a sink near to your fish tank!

True - but you can get them with a 50ft pipe (I think) Mine is 25ft which is fine to run from tap mixer in the kitchen to my front room.

 

[Reco]

I have a 25fter aswell, it's great. now, can I suck out the water usually 25-30% and then adjust the temp and fill the tank up from the hose or should i put it in a bucket, then add the dechlorinater and then add to my tank. I usually just add the dechlorinater to the tank as i'm filling from the hose,just wondered if i was doing it wrong.Filling from the hose doesn't seem to bother the fishies.

 

[leafs]

When I'm filling up my tank with the Python, I just add the declorinator as it's filling up. Never had a problem.

 

[anvil63]

They are ok if you have a sink near to your fish tank!

True - but you can get them with a 50ft pipe (I think) Mine is 25ft which is fine to run from tap mixer in the kitchen to my front room.

They are also offered in 100ft.

 

[AncientMariner]

They are ok if you have a sink near to your fish tank!

True - but you can get them with a 50ft pipe (I think) Mine is 25ft which is fine to run from tap mixer in the kitchen to my front room.

They are also offered in 100ft.

Blimey 100ft too!! I might have to purchase one of them & offer a tank cleaning service to the other fish keepers on my estate