Aquarium cleaning for breeders

[Naruto]

Ok, I've got a 80 gallon breeding shrimps. Now I've just moved up to it a few days ago (prior to that 37 gallon) and realized cleaning it like manually WITHOUT killing anything and screen out frys would probably be a hard one.

By doing it the old fashion way sucking it out and putting into the bucket method while making sure frys aren't there just doesn't seem very effecient right off the bat. Does anyone with experience have any suggestions in doing it in a more effective way in the long run? Thanks!

 

[Moester]

could try a skinnier hose but that would take longer

 

[birmansandbettas]

When cleaning my fry tank, I put a piece of cheesecloth over the end of the tube with a rubberband. Perhaps something similar could work for you, depending on the size of the holes?

 

[gomezladdams]

I have a filter sock over the end of the hose,problem is you cant get much dirt out that way.Little shrim really complicate things as they are everywhere and not afraid of the hose.

 

[swede]

might be a bit awkward to get ahold of, but since i'm married i had some pantyhose i could cut and use over some of the filter intakes. you could easily slip the hose over the vac when you clean. it will keep the fry from being sucked up. also, i would use the method of making small circles over the substrate. I use this method to prevent sucking up much sand in one of my tanks. you have sponges over the filter intakes too?

 

[Toby_H]

I use 1/4" airline to remove the solid waste. I can usually use my finger to steer fry away from the hose rather easily without stirring the waste up into the water...

Then I use my normal siphon hose to drain the bulk of the water out for a water change near the surface of the tank (fry tend to stay in the lower regions).

 

[MonsterMinis]

actually as bad as it sounds.. I give my tank a few good "whacks" like you always see kids do at petstores >.< that indeed scares everything in the tank into taking cover.. It's how I keep from sucking up guppy/molly/platy fry.. still drain into a bucket and let sit a few so I can make sure I didn't lose any. Every now 'n then i'll get one.. particularly if one of my big females just had a litter =/

 

[Naruto]

When cleaning my fry tank, I put a piece of cheesecloth over the end of the tube with a rubberband. Perhaps something similar could work for you, depending on the size of the holes?

might be a bit awkward to get ahold of, but since i'm married i had some pantyhose i could cut and use over some of the filter intakes. you could easily slip the hose over the vac when you clean. it will keep the fry from being sucked up. also, i would use the method of making small circles over the substrate. I use this method to prevent sucking up much sand in one of my tanks. you have sponges over the filter intakes too?

Well, the one I currently use isn't very complicated. It's your typical petsmart syphon.

Now with these pantyhose or cloth over the hose...doesn't that destroy the point of changing water? Since it won't suck out the poop which is really the point of changing the water in the first place? Or...?

 

[MadBob]

if you're breeding shrimp a walstad method system might work very well for you. I used them to house bettas, never made much effort to try to remove solid wastes, and rarely read any nitrate in the tanks. For an 80g I'd recommend amazon swords, one mother plant can consume more nitrate than several hundred shrimp can possibly hope poop out.