×
Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Cleaning gravel and sand

  • Didihno (Didihno)
  • Didihno (Didihno)'s Avatar Topic Author
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
16 Feb 2007 03:23 #1 by Didihno (Didihno)
Cleaning gravel and sand was created by Didihno (Didihno)
I'm becoming quite handy with the gravel vac.
Never heard of it before a last November!
Thing is its already breaking from use in the gravelled tank.
Well it was a cheapo one I bought in Wackers, still it cost like €15.
My question is where to get a quality one that won't shatter because of digging in gravel?

With sand I have a different approach, like in my 240l tank with coral sand substrate. I have an algae scraper tool this is handy, or you can stick your arm into the tank and use your hand like a paddle.
Anyway, I gently fan the surface dirt into one corner thats easily accessible for your vac. Go slowly using the water to 'sweep' the dirt into one big pile. Then suck it all out in one go!
It takes time but its actually fun, and your fish get used to you very quickly, they even play with your hand.
I have one largeish Gourami that swims up to my arm and tries to rub off me, or feel me with his feelers.
It's very enjoyable to interact with your pets this way!

Does anyone else do this to clean off surface sh1t?

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
16 Feb 2007 04:49 #2 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Cleaning gravel and sand
What are you doing with your gravel cleaner that it is broken after a couple of months? I have mine for 20 years and it's still in one piece. You are not supposed to ram it into your substrate. A gently push will do.

As for cleaning sand substrate, run your fingers through the sand every couple of weeks or as needed. You want to avoid any bulit up of toxic gases in the sand. Your filter should be strong enough to suck up all the dirt.

Holger

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Didihno (Didihno)
  • Didihno (Didihno)'s Avatar Topic Author
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
16 Feb 2007 17:49 #3 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Cleaning gravel and sand

What are you doing with your gravel cleaner that it is broken after a couple of months? I have mine for 20 years and it's still in one piece. You are not supposed to ram it into your substrate. A gently push will do.

As for cleaning sand substrate, run your fingers through the sand every couple of weeks or as needed. You want to avoid any bulit up of toxic gases in the sand. Your filter should be strong enough to suck up all the dirt.

Holger

I might be going a bit strong on the cleaner, but the plastic is also very thin.
I did mention it was a cheap and nasty affair.
I saw the same on ebay for €5 but I needed one then.

Didn't know about agitating the sand.
I'll try that.
What about the pockets of green/brown that seem to accumulate in spots under the surface, any idea if this is just dirt or something else?

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
16 Feb 2007 18:36 #4 by KenS (Ken Simpson)
Most of the gravel vacs I've seen are pretty strong. I think mine is an Interpet. I'd have to try pretty hard to crack it.

Regards,

Ken.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • russell (russell)
  • russell (russell)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
17 Feb 2007 03:35 #5 by russell (russell)
Replied by russell (russell) on topic Sand
Be careful with Sand. unlike gravel it will compact down. and after 6-9 months, perhaps even sooner you will find Black patches. bad news you need to syphon these pockets out and replace it.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Didihno (Didihno)
  • Didihno (Didihno)'s Avatar Topic Author
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
17 Feb 2007 10:53 #6 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Sand

Be careful with Sand. unlike gravel it will compact down. and after 6-9 months, perhaps even sooner you will find Black patches. bad news you need to syphon these pockets out and replace it.

Tell me more.
What exactly is the black patch and what are its effects?

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
18 Feb 2007 04:36 #7 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Cleaning gravel and sand
Essentially those black patches are a collection of anaerobic bacteria. You'll avoid any of them running your hands through the sand every couple of weeks or so

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • russell (russell)
  • russell (russell)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
18 Feb 2007 11:22 #8 by russell (russell)
Replied by russell (russell) on topic Sand
You will usualy but not always find the patches of black around any plants you may have.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Didihno (Didihno)
  • Didihno (Didihno)'s Avatar Topic Author
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
18 Feb 2007 16:09 #9 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Cleaning gravel and sand
What happens if you stir up the black patches?

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
19 Feb 2007 02:17 #10 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Cleaning gravel and sand
Very little if it's only a small patch. The gases wil just dissolve into the water and then escape into the air. To avoid any of this use a heatercable in the substrate. The lower parts of the substrate will still go black but since the the gases are heated by the heating cable they will dissolve. This will also have a positive effect on plant growths. It is easier for plants to gather nutrients out of this layer, especiallly iron.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.042 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum