Gravel Cleaning

[fishlover900]

I have a hexagon tank that is 10g (if the tank was square, so less then that) the gravel suface is to small to use a gravel cleaner. Would it be safe to use my hand to move the gravel. This way the dirt would rise and be sucked up by my filter.

 

[tstenback]

I guess you gotta do what you gotta do but i have 2 gal tanks that i clean with a syphon so i dont understand why you cant get one into a 10 gal even if it is a hex tank, unless it is covered with plants and other decor. I would use a stick or something to stir up the gravel though your hand in there all the time might stress the fish and cause more upheaval than just some "stuff" from the bottom.

 

[Helium_Junkie]

If your filter WILL suck it all up!

I find when stuff is stirred up and left for a while it actually just settles on the bottom again instead of being filtered...

Do it and try using a net for the big particles and hope the filter does the rest

 

[Tednol]

or stir it up and get some water out of there quickly. come bk again if you need to, stir it up again and get the water out.

or get some more gravel to make it easier

 

[love fishies]

Never stir up your gravel, I was told that long ago. It is not good unless your filter is very very good and sucks it up very quickly. You disturb the levels in your tank by stirring up your gravel. You should have no problem using a gravel cleaner to do it and it is better for the quality of the water.

 

[Tednol]

how deep is the gravel?

 

[Fantast Bronson]

In my Fishlopaedia by Mary Bailey and Peter Burgess. They basically say that using a gravel clearner is ok for removing loose mulm from the surface of the gravel, but not clearn up solids. As the gravel contains GOOD bactiria it is no wise to clean the gravel in debth as the gravel cleaner will effect the biological processing of waste. As a newbie it sound very plausible. What do you guys think?

 

[heresmike]

In my Fishlopaedia by Mary Bailey and Peter Burgess. They basically say that using a gravel clearner is ok for removing loose mulm from the surface of the gravel, but not clearn up solids. As the gravel contains GOOD bactiria it is no wise to clean the gravel in debth as the gravel cleaner will effect the biological processing of waste. As a newbie it sound very plausible. What do you guys think?

From my personal experience, if the filter is efficient enough, the bacteria in the gravel is not needed for the biological process. I switched all the gravel once, and had no ammonia and nitrite readings as a result. Therefore, I clean my gravel as thoroughly as possible every week.

 

[heresmike]

I have a hexagon tank that is 10g (if the tank was square, so less then that) the gravel suface is to small to use a gravel cleaner. Would it be safe to use my hand to move the gravel. This way the dirt would rise and be sucked up by my filter.

I too am unclear on why you can't use a vac. Maybe your vac is too big? They do come in different sizes.

 

[lougotzz]

your gonna get cloudy watrer if you do that

 

[fishlover900]

The porblem I had was that when i used my gravel cleaner I could empty out half the tank in the process. I just bought a air powered one with a bag so the water goes back in the tank. There very good GET ONE!

 

[njnauticalnut]

The porblem I had was that when i used my gravel cleaner I could empty out half the tank in the process. I just bought a air powered one with a bag so the water goes back in the tank. There very good GET ONE!

Can you explain how this works a bit more? How does just the water go back into the tank and not the stuff in the water? Feeling a bit perplexed.

 

[Tednol]

The porblem I had was that when i used my gravel cleaner I could empty out half the tank in the process. I just bought a air powered one with a bag so the water goes back in the tank. There very good GET ONE!

Can you explain how this works a bit more? How does just the water go back into the tank and not the stuff in the water? Feeling a bit perplexed.

yeh
i am also intreeged.
what is it called

 

[Tednol]

Do you mean this one?
http/www.fish-supplies.com/aquarium.asp?equipment=47490
dosent look V.good to me.
wouldnt you rather be cleanin the gravel and changing the water at the same time?

 

[kaley822]

yeah i know, then u still gotta go back and replace water sometimes anyway. i'd rather just do it all at once