Cleaning Gravel

[Tongue_Flicker]

I'm pretty sure the dark colored gravel that he has,
Has a very sea/ocean-ish smell. If so, it's a combination of algae+bacteria. Pretty nasty if you disturb the gravel haha

 

[puneetvijh]

Whenever I disturb the gravel there is lot of dirt below that but color of gravel is blackish may be with algae as algae eater fish do not come in that area cause Chiclid in that area threatens them.

 

I don't think it's a vacuum issue, more like a algae / bactira issue.

Shows how much I know

He still should be vacuuming each week though. Will all algae do this or just certain types?
 

Vaccuming will also need water changing may be part or so.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

Yes, you should try to vacuum all the surface dirt first then maybe you could spread a very thin layer of new sand or gravel just enough to cover the dark areas.

What kind of filtration are you using anyways? You don't have plants there yet right? I guess an undergravel filter would work against your gravel problem the next time you do a complete water change

 

[msebar]

Yes, you should try to vacuum all the surface dirt first then maybe you could spread a very thin layer of new sand or gravel just enough to cover the dark areas.

What kind of filtration are you using anyways? You don't have plants there yet right? I guess an undergravel filter would work against your gravel problem the next time you do a complete water change

If you add new gravel to cover bad gravel when you do a vacum the gravel will mix so that wouldn't work well. You need to get rid of it by cleaning or replacing. I know it sucks but it has to be done.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

Haha i know. I'm just trying to stay in his concept of cleaning up the gravel without removing the fish or doing a complete water change. But seeing things as it is, this is probably a severe case of bad waste build-up.

 

[puneetvijh]

I will try vaccuming & part water change.Also what to do about difference in two water temps aquariums & tap water.

 

[LK555]

If you don't have too many fish, you have good filtration, and your tank has been running for a while there should be enough bacteria living in the filter media that you can take the gravel right out of the aquarium without disturbing the water quality. I have done this before when i switched from Gravel to sand substrate without changing the water or removing the fish. Use a net or strainer to remove the gravel without removing the water, but be sure to take your time and do it slow as to not scare or stress the fish too much. Technically you don't NEED to have ANY gravel in the tank as long as you have good filtration so there is no huge rush to put it back in. once it is out of the tank you can try running water over it and shaking it in a strainer or even cleaning with 100% alcohol. but be sure to let the gravel sit if you use chlorinated water or alcohol before putting it back into the tank. and check water parameters often during the whole process. if you get any ammonia or nitrite do water changes daily until they return to normal.

 

[fluttermoth]

I will try vaccuming & part water change.Also what to do about difference in two water temps aquariums & tap water.

Either add some hot water from a kettle, or just add the new water very slowly.

 

[puneetvijh]

I have vaccumed & changed part water.Cleared the dirt from under the gravel a bit.It made the removed water blackish.I have added plants to aquarium but fish are eating its leaves.Though plants are in a small pot that I placed in aquarium.