2007-02-08 09:24:52 · 12 answers · asked by Mack J 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
Hi,I use to have a lad clean my tank as I did not have the confidence he used an ordinary Gravel cleaner.I decided to have a go at cleaning them at first used normal gravel cleaner have now got a gem its a Penn Plax Super Aquarium Cleaner,Scraper And Siphon.Its easy to use you just plunge it untill water starts coming out & it gets to the bottom of gravel.The muck shocked me it was black thankfully it is now the usual colour also its really quick.
2007-02-09 05:55:55 · answer #1 · answered by Ollie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, my tank is overstocked, but I never have to clean the substrate. It's not a bad idea to allow some deposit on the gravel, as this goes towards feeding the plants via the roots. The secret of my tank is that I use an external filter which is 3 times larger than is needed. This produces a current which does not allow much detritis to settle.
2007-02-09 02:36:15 · answer #2 · answered by ispooky2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take it you are referring to under-gravel filter/cleaners. It all depends on your aquarium conditions.
I've had both but prefer the in-water filters, though it's personal preference.
It's best to not over-stock and over-feed, so that the need and demand for gravel/water cleaning is minimised. Waste products and processing cause a variety of potentially dangerous chemicals to damage your fish health.
If you're setting up a new tank, condition the water first and increase the stock of fish very gradually, so that you can test and monitor the water quality.
If you're referring to those fast action pump cleaners where water is fast filtered, I've used them, but I'm not so fussed.
Good luck! Rob
2007-02-08 09:36:05 · answer #3 · answered by Rob E 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Algae is additionally a demonstration that the tank is receiving too lots mild, or there is an some distance greater suitable than nutrition. on your case it is in all probability the latter. in case you haven't any longer been making use of a gravel siphon to hoover out the substrate than you in all probability have very severe nitrates. it is via fact greater nutrition, and waste stages interior the substrate and rots there. severe stages of nitrates will spur algae advance, stunt fish advance, and over an prolonged span of time reason fish dying. you will desire to bathe your gravel. Siphons are low fee and make water differences rapid and basic. positioned money right into a single.
2016-12-17 05:30:23 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found them ok, most things in gravel is food, best thing is don`t over feed which keeps the gravel cleaner
2007-02-08 09:30:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are good i paid about £6 for mine
it gets deep into the gravel i don't use it every time i do a water change though
2007-02-09 01:40:14 · answer #6 · answered by Black Orchid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are. And they are really a must. their are also several different kinds of gravel vacuums. Some you siphon water for it to work some you hook to a water source and other are battery or electric.They help with water changes and get unwanted fish matter out of your gravel.
2007-02-08 09:32:45 · answer #7 · answered by zan j 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ye they do encourage the tank to be kept clean
Fish gravel should not be disturbed as this will make the fish stressed.
So that is the only way of diong it withiout harming the fish
2007-02-09 02:39:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravel vacuum siphons are the greatest thing since sliced bread for fish keeping. No fish keeper should be without one in by opinion.
2007-02-08 09:43:26 · answer #9 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think so, I use one when I do a water change in the tanks, it seems to get out quite a bit of the muck.
2007-02-08 09:36:03 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋