How can I clean the gravel in my fish tank?

Question

It has accumulated debris and some black algae. Would it help to buy a gravel vaccuum, or should I just replace it? If so, how do they work and about how much do they cost? Thanks!

Answer 1

You definitely should buy a gravel vacuum and use it every time you do you weekly water changes. This will prevent the debris and algae from accumulating on the gravel.

They are pretty inexpensive: http://fishgeeks.cheappetstore.com/index.php?cPath=13_1586_1627

You use them by siphoning water out of the tank and into a bucket. The water will agitate the gravel as it's being siphoned out and suck out any debris into the buck for you to dump out.

Answer 2

A good cleansing should bring back the color & luster. Remove the rocks from the tank into a collendar (small holes so the rocks don't fall through) run hot water over them, shaking the collender a bit to loosen the sticky stuff--- NO SOAP!
Routine cleansing can be done with a gravel vac which I have found be be a very useful tool in maintaining the aquarium.

Answer 3

If you have gravel then you should have a gravel vac and should use it during every water change. They have the cheaper ones that you need to start yourself by either bouncing the end up and down in the water or sucking on the end for under 5 bucks or you can get one that hooks up to the faucet for around $25 and up.

Answer 4

get a gravel vaccuum. you should never replace all the rocks at the bottom since many benificial bacteria live on it and help balance the ecosystem and keep your fish healthy. they're not that expensive just around $10 or so.

Answer 5

id go buy a gravel vac to vacumn out the debree depending on the size of the tank would determine on whether on not i would completely break down the tank and scrub it but if you do break it down and scrub it dont forget to add the chems back in the tank plus you'll need something for the fish to stay in for 2 days for the tank to cycle unless your going to float your fish in a bag to temp match the temp in the tank this only takes about 45 min to float them gravel vac price depends on the size you get you can get one at walmart for 5.00 maybe a little more

Answer 6

Next time you clean you aquarium scoop out the gravel, put it in a sieve or colander, and run warm water over it until the water runs clear. I wouldn't spend any money on something when you can fix the problem yourself. : )

Answer 7

theres a fancy siphon you can hook to a faucet , called "the python"

Answer 8

put it under steaming hot water then put soap after putting the soap on it make sure to make it sud free

Answer 9

siphon