Every Time I Gravel Vac ,loads Of Dirt Floats In Water?

[maisy12345]

Hi ,i do a 50 percent water change once weekly,and also gravel vac at the same time,but every time i do loads of dirt floats in the water ,from the gravel ,especially when i add clean water ,and takes a while to settle ,is this normal and will it effect my fish in any way? My gravel is only 1/2 inch deep ,so i can`t understand this.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Yes this is normal. Everytime I do it on my gravel tank quite alot comes up. I just try and do the best gravel clean in one section at a time, that way I know one area is totally clean (to the best I can do) then I work on another area next time.

That is the same reason in my bigger tank I have changed to sand and will be in this one once I get around to doing it

 

[Tizer]

if you got a large hose on the vac the water drains quickly and doesnt give you much time to vac properly, sometimes its worth changing the hose or findings a different one to do the job.

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks both ,but will this floating dirt effect the fish in any way ,and do you get this floating dirt with sand?

 

[Tizer]

you generally dont disturb sand as the poop just sits in the top, gravel is horrible to keep clean, but sand shows the dirt a lot more.

 

[raptorrex]

Thanks both ,but will this floating dirt effect the fish in any way ,and do you get this floating dirt with sand?

it shouldn't. after all, its bin in the tank all the time, just you can see it when its stirred up.
the filter should catch most of it. but some will fall back to the substrate.

I had the same problem as Tizer (large bore syphon 2 inches, i think.). so bought a smaller one (1 and 1/4 inch) just for gravel cleaning. keeping the bigger one for changes only.
funny thing here. the smaller unit actually cleans better, and deeper than the larger bore does.
though the amount of water moved is bigger in the larger unit. but the pressure (or suction pressure) of the smaller unit is higher. so it will pick bigger bits up, and get deeper down.
counter intuitive, perhaps. but true.

they do make Airpump and battery powered, syphon cleaners.
these, instead of removing the water, from the tank. cycle the water through a mesh bag. this means you can catch many of those "floaters" lol and not worry about how full you container is.
I've found the airpump variety, less than effective (but that's just me)
most of the battery ones are much the same.(many agree here)
however the Eheim unit does work, well. but its pricey @ £30-£40

 

[Rynofasho]

Bear in mind there is bacteria in there, some of which is bad. I just had an Ich outbreak from a similar situation.

 

[maisy12345]

How do i prevent my fish getting ich ,and what is it ,and how do i treat it?

 

[Proxo]

How do i prevent my fish getting ich ,and what is it ,and how do i treat it?

Prevention;
Quarantine new fish for two weeks
Treat plants before adding to tank
Maintain high water quality
Provide fish with a nutritionally balanced diet

Symptoms;
Small white spots resembling sand
Fish scratch against rocks and gravel
In advanced stages fish become lethargic
Redness or bloody streaks in advanced stages

Treatment;
Raise water temperature
Medicate for 10-14 days
Reduce medication when treating scaleless fish
Discontinue carbon filtration during treatment
Perform water changes between treatments

LOL yeah copy and paste job

But i will add sometimes fish scratch against objects anyway it doesnt mean they've got ich, unless they're constantly doing it i wouldn't worry.

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks ,that`s something tolook forward to doing,is this ich common,and what medication do you use? I wish i`d listened to everybody now and put sand in first,thought that sand would be a problem when i did water changes though as it takes a long time to settle ,and wouldn`t this effect the fish?

 

[raptorrex]

Bear in mind there is bacteria in there, some of which is bad. I just had an Ich outbreak from a similar situation.

but the bacteria was already in the tank. good or bad, just because you can see it, does not make it more, or less dangerous
and you cant get ick from bacteria. indeed you have to import it.
so even stressing fish, in an ICK free tank. will never end in an outbreak.

your outbreak was caused by fish you have bought and added to the tank.
removing any bacteria, you may have in your substrate, can cause (what some call) a "mini cycle". the stress from this can cause an outbreak. but you will still need to have added infested fish first.

neither of these:

Maintain high water quality
Provide fish with a nutritionally balanced diet

will have any effect on the chances of a ick outbreak. its the first two that count.

 

[Louiseness]

Thanks ,that`s something tolook forward to doing,is this ich common,and what medication do you use? I wish i`d listened to everybody now and put sand in first,thought that sand would be a problem when i did water changes though as it takes a long time to settle ,and wouldn`t this effect the fish?

A tip for water changes which works for both sand AND gravel is to tip the water onto something (rocks, bogwood, upside-down plate or bowl placed on the substrate) which helps to stop it all flying everywhere with the force of the water. This might also stop all the gunk being blasted around.

 

[Tizer]

i put the hose into my ear and let the water come out of my mouth, true story

 

[Box]

i put the hose into my ear and let the water come out of my mouth, true story

Been on the beer mate..... Lol

 

[marieukxx]

I get the same Maisy. Every so often I net it to get some of it out. You don't have to as it settles back down but I like to sometimes. When it's all kicked up floating about I put my net in and catch loads, it's amazing how much poop there is.