Cleaning First Tank?

[frozenbarb]

well my tank as 2 plants n lots of javamoss attached to peices of slate n is on the floor but the floor is like messy n has rocks everywhere how do i clean a tank like that?? do i jus change the top water? plus the floor of the tank is very dirty but there is very clear water

 

[nukeonekitty]

Use a gravel vac or just move everything around to stir up stuff and net whatever is big enough to grab and let the filter help you out... do water change as well!

 

[raptorrex]

Use a gravel vac or just move everything around to stir up stuff and net whatever is big enough to grab and let the filter help you out... do water change as well!

good advice, but watch out for the jumpers!!!! i had a Silver Dollar and a Silver tip Tetra, jump ship last time i did a total clean and move around!! both were Ok on return to the tank.

 

[wendyngd]

Use a gravel vac or just move everything around to stir up stuff and net whatever is big enough to grab and let the filter help you out... do water change as well!

good advice, but watch out for the jumpers!!!! i had a Silver Dollar and a Silver tip Tetra, jump ship last time i did a total clean and move around!! both were Ok on return to the tank.

May I throw in a related question myself re cleaning the tank? I've been trying to figure out if it is best to clean the tank (vacuum) and change water with the fish still in there. I've tried both ways--taking them out while cleaning and cleaning with them in tank and somebody ends up injured, shocked and/or dead some of the time>

I also am not sure to do with my 2 gallon betta bowl. Same problem. He's only 3 days with us and just settling in (bubble nest, etc) and I know you're supposed to change a static tank's water (no filter) more often. I'm worried about how much to change, do I vacuum, do I move him out and change whole or most of the 2 gallons? I'm afraid of "freaking the little guy out". Any suggestions would be appreciated..

Wendy

 

[raptorrex]

May I throw in a related question myself re cleaning the tank? I've been trying to figure out if it is best to clean the tank (vacuum) and change water with the fish still in there. I've tried both ways--taking them out while cleaning and cleaning with them in tank and somebody ends up injured, shocked and/or dead some of the time>

I also am not sure to do with my 2 gallon betta bowl. Same problem. He's only 3 days with us and just settling in (bubble nest, etc) and I know you're supposed to change a static tank's water (no filter) more often. I'm worried about how much to change, do I vacuum, do I move him out and change whole or most of the 2 gallons? I'm afraid of "freaking the little guy out". Any suggestions would be appreciated..

Wendy

have a look, i answer in a new thread,
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=166166

 

[dwarfgourami]

May I throw in a related question myself re cleaning the tank? I've been trying to figure out if it is best to clean the tank (vacuum) and change water with the fish still in there. I've tried both ways--taking them out while cleaning and cleaning with them in tank and somebody ends up injured, shocked and/or dead some of the time>

Hmmm, this shouldn't really be happening. If you find you cannot do a water change without upsetting your fish, I'm wondering if your problem is one of the following:
you are taking out too much water (20-25% a week should be sufficient, or with very sensitive fish 10% twice a week)
you are changing water too infrequently (causing a great gap between tank water and tap water)
you forget to dechlorinate
you use too big a gravel vac and injure the fish- I find the mini-gravel vac is easiest to use even on quite big tank, but then I have lots of small fish

 

[wendyngd]

May I throw in a related question myself re cleaning the tank? I've been trying to figure out if it is best to clean the tank (vacuum) and change water with the fish still in there. I've tried both ways--taking them out while cleaning and cleaning with them in tank and somebody ends up injured, shocked and/or dead some of the time>

Hmmm, this shouldn't really be happening. If you find you cannot do a water change without upsetting your fish, I'm wondering if your problem is one of the following:
you are taking out too much water (20-25% a week should be sufficient, or with very sensitive fish 10% twice a week)
you are changing water too infrequently (causing a great gap between tank water and tap water)
you forget to dechlorinate
you use too big a gravel vac and injure the fish- I find the mini-gravel vac is easiest to use even on quite big tank, but then I have lots of small fish

Thanks. I did a 25% change for the betta and that seemed to go ok. My ephreim vacuum is a lot quieter than I thought--and so effective!! (Greeat recommendation from the forum) ..I did do a 25% change in my 10 g tank with 3 adult mollies, 1 catfish and about 30 newly born molly fry--which went pretty well (exxcept for almost vacuuming out some of the fry) but our water is still cloudy (even after using a clarifier) and the filter indicates it needs changing again--after last nt.!!

My husband says that I'm probably feeding them too much in this tank--and that's why we can't get it clear (even with clarifier). I do feed the baby fry a few times a day--powered flake food. Do I need more frequent water changes--stats have been good=low nitrates and nitrites, etc.??

Thanks. -Wendy