Two of my tanks are i need of a very good cleaning. Between the substrate accumulating gunk and the decorations starting to get algae, I need to take a day and clean them.
I've been contemplating how to do this.
In the 20 Gal tank, I plan to take out my stock and all of the water and give it a really good cleaning.
(This will also give me a chance to re-arrange decorations without fear of squishing anyone.) And it means my girls (This tank is a Beta Sorority) will have a new environment to explore, so despite the fighting over territory it will cause, I believe it's for the best.
This tank has an algae problem. The main floor of my house is open concept and so there are a lot of windows. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean up the algae that has started to grow below the substrate line against the glass? Even if I get algae eating fish or snails, they won't clean it up as they won't be able to reach it.
I don't want to take all the water out of my 30 gal tank, I'm happy where the decorations are, but the substrate always looks gunky and covered in waste. This is in part due to the filter (as it's starting to show it's age and I'm planning on getting a new one) But I also believe it's my BNP, he's mature now and has begun digging burrows under all the decorations and generally creating a mess of his own.
My gravel syphon isn't cutting it in trying to clean up all the gunk my filter can't get and I can't think of any other way to clean it other than to take a net and drag it close to the bottom in hopes of catching some.
Does anyone have a suggestion for how I can clean the substrate more thoroughly?
Also, suggestions on removing hard water build up that doesn't involve a razor blade? I've found that using baking soda and vinegar works really well, but I don't like the possibility of getting either chemicals in my tank as I'm sure they're not very good for the chemistry.
I've been contemplating how to do this.
In the 20 Gal tank, I plan to take out my stock and all of the water and give it a really good cleaning.
(This will also give me a chance to re-arrange decorations without fear of squishing anyone.) And it means my girls (This tank is a Beta Sorority) will have a new environment to explore, so despite the fighting over territory it will cause, I believe it's for the best.
This tank has an algae problem. The main floor of my house is open concept and so there are a lot of windows. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean up the algae that has started to grow below the substrate line against the glass? Even if I get algae eating fish or snails, they won't clean it up as they won't be able to reach it.
I don't want to take all the water out of my 30 gal tank, I'm happy where the decorations are, but the substrate always looks gunky and covered in waste. This is in part due to the filter (as it's starting to show it's age and I'm planning on getting a new one) But I also believe it's my BNP, he's mature now and has begun digging burrows under all the decorations and generally creating a mess of his own.
My gravel syphon isn't cutting it in trying to clean up all the gunk my filter can't get and I can't think of any other way to clean it other than to take a net and drag it close to the bottom in hopes of catching some.
Does anyone have a suggestion for how I can clean the substrate more thoroughly?
Also, suggestions on removing hard water build up that doesn't involve a razor blade? I've found that using baking soda and vinegar works really well, but I don't like the possibility of getting either chemicals in my tank as I'm sure they're not very good for the chemistry.
