Gravel Vac

[jdogg730]

What is the best way to get a gravel vac started, I heard sucking to start the syphon is one, any other suggestions?

[crackatinny]

With mine you just shake it up and down and it is self starting, it is an aqua-one.
I took off the short hose and connected a garden hose, and it reaches outside.

[SkarloeysMom]

What is the best way to get a gravel vac started, I heard sucking to start the syphon is one, any other suggestions?

If you fill the whole syphon hose with water and hold up the vac end and cover the outlet end with your thumb. Then put vac end into tank with thumb still over other end. With your bucket below the level of the tank, put the outlet end into the bucket the syphon will start on its own.

[zackish]

Just don't vacuum your whole tank at one time. I don't think you are suppose to. Plus if you stir up all your substrate like I did you are going to have some problems (high nitrites)

[Drumachine09]

Just don't vacuum your whole tank at one time. I don't think you are suppose to. Plus if you stir up all your substrate like I did you are going to have some problems (high nitrites)




Why shouldnt you vaccuum the whole tank at one time?

The bacteria will anchor itself to the gravel, not float around by the gravel. When you vac, only a minimal amount of the ben. bac. will get sucked up. Most of it remains in the filter anyway.

[zackish]

Why shouldnt you vaccuum the whole tank at one time?

The bacteria will anchor itself to the gravel, not float around by the gravel. When you vac, only a minimal amount of the ben. bac. will get sucked up. Most of it remains in the filter anyway.


That makes since but then WHY IS MY TANK SO ****** up...anyways...

[Bill M.]

That makes since but then WHY IS MY TANK SO ****** up...anyways...


Arnt you doing a fishless cycle??? If its not working, just syphon out all the water, put new dechlorinated in, and cycle it with fish..... buy some Stability from Seachem.... its a miricle product...

[dev]

I think zackish is referring to the common spike in nitrates that can happen when you go deeper than usual into the gravel, or if you have not cleaned the gravel for some time. Often happens when a new fishkeeper finds out about gravel cleaning for the first time.

Also commonly happens when you replant a planted tank.

As Drumachine09 says, it's not so much about the bacteria in the substrate - most of them do live in the filter. Instead it's about the low levels of oxygen and bacteria in the lower layers of the substrate.

In most tanks today there is very limited circulation through the substrate The result is that you may find partially decomposed dirt, and a good bit of nitrates beneath the top layer of the gravel.

Common ways to increase the water circulation in the gravel is by using substrate heater cables, or filter through the substrate. If you have sand, some sandsnails can help you keep the circulation up. There are some good articles on how and why at thekrib.com

[Kuli_Loach]

I have a small one for my 10g that is a pain in my rear to get started. My big one for my 55g and the other larger ones works like a charm, just shake it back and forth.

[RobbieG]

Mine will start if I shake 'em but it scares the crap out of my fish so I just suck start them

(how the heck do you say that without it sounding odd)

[tropfish]

Haha that does sound really weird, but thats how i start mine too, its quicker. Except I have gotten a mouth full of water when i went to use it again and forgot that theres still water in it :hmm3grin2orange: (when i take it out to empty the bucket and put it back in lol)

[crackatinny]

It should be pointed out here that syphoning by mouth can be danerous, fish can get disease that can be harmful to humans and in some cases fatal, syphoning by mouth is not recomended.

[cocoa_pleco]

It should be pointed out here that syphoning by mouth can be danerous, fish can get disease that can be harmful to humans and in some cases fatal, syphoning by mouth is not recomended.


VERY true. TB can be transferred. if you need to do it the mouth way, place lots of Kleenex's where you will place your mouth to prevent any harm

[SkarloeysMom]

Yuck! I would never start a gravel vac syphon with my mouth! ICK! If you're using a bucket to drain into just try my method of filling the hose with water first. Works like a charm. As the sign in my 10g says, "Don't Drink the Water!"

[RobbieG]

There's an art to it - one quick suck and put the end in the bucket. The water never gets near your mouth if you do it right

Besides - whats wrong with a mouthful of TB infested fish pee every so often:hmm3grin2orange:

Seriously though you should be careful - like the others said there is all kinds of nastiness in aquarium water.

[tropfish]

Yea i really should be more careful.

[jdogg730]

Big thanks for all of the help, I am def not going to syphon by mouth now, that sounds nasty!!