|
-
 cleaning out entire tank
0
Is it safe to remove my fish to fully empty my 20 gal tank to clean the gravel because i find that the gravel is super dirty.
-
-
0
All you do is vac the gravel with your gravel vac. You don't remove fish to do that.
-
0
 Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs
All you do is vac the gravel with your gravel vac. You don't remove fish to do that.
And you should be doing it regularly btw.
Gas mileage isn't everything OIIIIIIIO
Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
Why pretend there are no stupid questions? Actually, There are many stupid questions: "Should I drink this bleach?" Is just one example.
Having said that, Just because it's a stupid question doesn't mean that it shouldn't be asked. It's better to know.
A warm beer is better than a cold beer. Because nothing is better than a cold beer, and a warm beer is better than nothing.
-
0
In answer to your question, yes as long as you 1) use tank water so the pH is the same 2) Have a heater so the temp does not fall (its winter and rooms tend to be colder) 3) an airstone to make sure they get enough oxygen. Then that should be fine. I do it all the time with discus when I need to do major cleans (twice a year) on the tank.
Knowledge is fun(damental)
A 75 gal with eight Discus, fake plants, and a lot of wood also with sand substrate. Clean up crew is down to just two Sterba's Corys. Filters: continuous new water flow; canister w/UV, in-tank algae scrubber!! Finally, junked the nitrate removal unit from hell.
For Fishless cycling:http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=5640
-
0
I have had this tank running for 2 years and i have never cleaned out the whole tank . When i vacuum the gravel there is alot of stuff floating in the water when I'm done
-
0
I think the important thing is to keep you filters wet when doing it. I have never done it because I have plants but why not just remove your decorations and give it a good vac?
4ft mbuna mangaino and yellows
4ft rainbow tank
4ft planted community
16g nano planted shrimp and neon tetras
10g nano reef
-
0
If you use plant substrate and have the tank planted, you don't clean the substrate. The waste turns into fertilizer. But if you just have gravel and never clean it, it turns into nitrates that are too high just like a dirty filter will do. Cleaning the substrate is just normal tank maintence.
-
0
You could take your fish out and put them in a bucket, but probably your best bet is to do smaller frequent gravel vacs, moving your decorations around and cleaning beneath them. 2-3x a week, about a 10% water change or so per time, would be best (less shocking to the fish).
I have been in your situation, but unfortunately that's because I wasn't vacuuming enough (nor changing water frequently enough). If you do you little vacs, eventually you'll get all the crud out. THis will be more effective than a big vacuum because all the junk in the water settles out. Do you have a water testing kit? You should probably check your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. A lot of dirty gravel, as LH said, might mean a lot of nitrates, which will hurt your fish eventually. It sounds like you might need to clean the tank a bit more often. Once a week is good, twice a week is also good, with a thorough gravel cleaning each time, since your tank is established. There is lots of good information here about keeping your tank in order...hope it helps you.
Beth
1 - 55 gallon planted community
3 - 10 to 20 gallon planted betta tanks
My advice: slow down, think, and be willing to learn. Then you'll be fine, no matter what.
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
|
|
Reply With Quote
