My kids have driven me mad. So I went out and bought a little 30 gallon cold water tank. Bought a pump (all clean) stuck some fish in. How do I clean the thing of fish poo??
2006-10-02 11:18:33 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Actually, the kids would probably enjoy cleaning it (mine do). You can buy a simple gravel vacuum (from wal mart - cheaper), and use it to siphon about 25% of the water every week. It will pick up the majority of the fish poop at the same time. You don't want the tank too clean. The beneficial bacteria in the tank will starve and the fish will get sick. Set out some water the night before the water change so that the chlorine will evaporate. There is no need to buy special chemicals that remove chemicals. I would however suggest that you invest in an automatic fish feeder (also at wal mart). They are inexpensive and very convenient if you want to take off for a weekend, or just to stop the kids from fighting over whose turn it is to feed them. It also prevents over feeding.
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2006-10-02 15:17:12 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a filter in the tank then that will take care of fish poo, all you have to do is clean the filter regularly like someone else has said about once or twice a week depending on how many fish you have.
Good luck & have fun and if the kids continue to drive you mad, sit with a cup of tea and watch the fish, they have a very soothing effect!
2006-10-02 18:44:49 · answer #2 · answered by Pawstimes16 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get this thing, but I can't remember what it is called, but basically you have a bucket on the floor, and you put the other end into the fish tank and suck the opposite end to start the water coming through the pipe. Whilst this is doing so, move the end that is in the tank, around the stones, gently, so as not to make the water really murky, and this will remove all the poop and stuff. You only remove less than a quarter or if its bad a quarter of the water, then top the water back up. Go to your local pet shop and ask them for one, they will know what you mean.
All the best.
Sorry its a bit gobbledy dook, I just cant remember what its called.
The lady above me has called it a gravel vacuum, not sure thats what we call it, but it sound close enough.
2006-10-02 11:32:37 · answer #3 · answered by bizzybee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a gravel vaccum. They are 5-10 dollars and work wonders. It works through siphoning. Just run it along the gravel and it will suck up all the poo. Or you can completely change the tank but for one that big I would not do that. Good luck, and yes I have ethical issues with just letting fish set in dirty water. Your lucky the fish lived. >:(
2006-10-02 11:29:52 · answer #4 · answered by Charis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can buy a siphon which takes the dirty water from gravel level and sucks up all the poo. only change part of the water though or the fish will get stressed, (50% max) also you can buy an under gravel filter, they aren't expensive but really work if you add the filter aid bacteria. Mine only needs cleaning once or twice a year
2006-10-04 11:43:02 · answer #5 · answered by Nicola C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your filter should be sucking up most debris.
A gravel vacuum is used to suck debris out of the gravel.
A python is is a long gravel vacuum that hooks to the faucet and can save a lot of backaches hauling buckets of water.
I'm assuming since you mention coldwater that you added goldfish. here's a good goldfish caresheet.
http://thegab.org/Articles/GoldfishBasics.html
Also, during the first month, your water will get toxic. Here's an article on what happens and how to keep your water from killing your fish while your biofilter bacteria get up to speed.
http://thegab.org/Articles/WaterQualityCycling.html
There's a lot more to it than just adding water and fish.
Good luck!
2006-10-02 11:53:05 · answer #6 · answered by Betty H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you leave it long enough the fish start to eat the poo, our tank was green two weeks ago, but now we can see them again....I am sure some readers may have ethical dilemas about this mis-treatment, but it works!!
2006-10-02 11:23:15 · answer #7 · answered by 47 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to get a filter,{it Catches all the scum and poop,ect.and then you wash it 2 times aweek i think,The Person in the Store will tell you and its probably on derecitions!My brother has 7 fish tanks!Hollywood
2006-10-02 11:24:57 · answer #8 · answered by hollywood 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
curious as to the connection between kids driving you mad and you buying a fish tank
2006-10-02 11:22:56 · answer #9 · answered by ladypeonie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the pump cleans it for you. but you must change the water every few weeks to keep it clean.
2006-10-02 11:35:56 · answer #10 · answered by dennis s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋