Disturbing Substrate

Johnlenham · Jan 20, 2009

Is there anyway while doing water changes to not disturb the sand substrate to much?

Im having to do one a day as im going through a mini cycle and when im pouring in water it just blasts sand everywhere and shifts the sand covering the plants roots which is a real pain in the ass..

Any ideas? I tried using the gravel pump to take the water fom the bucket into the tank but I cant get the bucket high enough for it to work :unsure:

DJ ArKaDaRkA · Jan 20, 2009

Johnlenham said:
Is there anyway while doing water changes to not disturb the sand substrate to much?

Im having to do one a day as im going through a mini cycle and when im pouring in water it just blasts sand everywhere and shifts the sand covering the plants roots which is a real pain in the ass..

Any ideas? I tried using the gravel pump to take the water fom the bucket into the tank but I cant get the bucket high enough for it to work

put a few BIG rocks where your pouring the water?

i have this problem with my gravel

Johnlenham · Jan 20, 2009

Yeah currently I have half a coconut in there as a cave but ofc after so much pouring it looks like a meteor has hit the tank :crazy:

DJ ArKaDaRkA · Jan 20, 2009

Johnlenham said:
Yeah currently I have half a coconut in there as a cave but ofc after so much pouring it looks like a meteor has hit the tank

i thought maybe using a power head like ive got in my internal filter

Goodygumdrops · Jan 20, 2009

Put a plastic (or real!) plate in,or a plastic bag,pour the water in over it.

backtotropical · Jan 20, 2009

Don't pour the water so fast.

Schmill · Jan 20, 2009

plastic bag teathered to the edges of the tank, (clothes pegs would work), then pour the water into that slowly, but not super slow. Most of the bags these days have holes in the bottom for safety, (and if it doesn't you can make some!), the bag will disrupt the downward pressure of the water, but the holes will still let it fill the tank

Aquatic_Az · Jan 20, 2009

Ive got a big red plastic plant in my tank and I just pour the water into the middle of that and it stops my gravel etc from getting kicked up

flippajh · Jan 20, 2009

Not sure how big your tank is, but on my smaller tank I use a 2 litre jug to get the water back in and I just put my hand slightly below the water level and pour the water through my hand. Obviously with a huge tank, filling it with a bucket this wouldn't be an option unless you had arms like Popeye!!

JustKia · Jan 20, 2009

If you're getting the "meteor just hit" look then you're simply pouring too fast.
In our 35L I put my hand on the water surface and hubby pours the water into my hand - no substrate disruption =)

Johnlenham · Jan 20, 2009

JustKia said:
If you're getting the "meteor just hit" look then you're simply pouring too fast.
In our 35L I put my hand on the water surface and hubby pours the water into my hand - no substrate disruption =)

Ah thought this might be the case.

Its a 65l tank and I have to lift a bucket of water about 5ft in the air to pour it in so its abit of a struggle, I shall try the diffrent techniques tomorrow

JustKia · Jan 20, 2009

In that case I'd say you'd probably be better off with a small pump or something to get the water up there (or make a DIY python - best thing I ever did LOL).

*simply can't imagine having to lift water buckets as high as her head :huh:

Johnlenham · Jan 20, 2009

JustKia said:
In that case I'd say you'd probably be better off with a small pump or something to get the water up there (or make a DIY python - best thing I ever did LOL).

*simply can't imagine having to lift water buckets as high as her head

Hmmm maybe four foot then

its atleast chest hight and im about 5ft 9. It would be easy as pie if I had away of getting the bucket higher than the tank as I could just use the gravel vac in reverse!

always4lora · Jan 20, 2009

Johnlenham said:
JustKia said:

In that case I'd say you'd probably be better off with a small pump or something to get the water up there (or make a DIY python - best thing I ever did LOL).

*simply can't imagine having to lift water buckets as high as her head

Click to expand...

Hmmm maybe four foot then its atleast chest hight and im about 5ft 9. It would be easy as pie if I had away of getting the bucket higher than the tank as I could just use the gravel vac in reverse!

I always used a gravel vac for emptying my old tank ,for filling it just use jug's or pans or something , as long it's done slowly will be fine , better to make a few trips to the sink than get a large bucket and end up having to rearange your tank as the water messed it up when poouring in ,