Ok so im trying to use a fluval pro vac and not enough power to suck up anything. Want to buy or build one that will actually work for monster fish waste. Without doing water changes in use. Anybody had this problem and have any input on how to fix?
Gravel vac
- Thread starter clinton o
- Start date
You are between a rock and a hard place here really. You don't want to do a water change, yet want to spend sufficient time doing a proper gravel vac, without sucking up any water! You are going to lose water whichever way.
A small diameter syphon pipe will take out less water, but suction will be poor, as in your current case. But a larger diameter syphon, although great at taking the crud away, also quickly removes water. Maybe that's why gravel vacuuming is usually carried out on water change day, they go hand in hand.
I don't do any gravel vacuuming. I simply have strategically placed powerheads intermittently coming on during the day which direct any settled crud to my outlet. Then the natural turnover of my system just takes it away to my waiting mech side.
That's the best way of dealing with settled crud without doing a water change, or vacuuming.
A small diameter syphon pipe will take out less water, but suction will be poor, as in your current case. But a larger diameter syphon, although great at taking the crud away, also quickly removes water. Maybe that's why gravel vacuuming is usually carried out on water change day, they go hand in hand.
I don't do any gravel vacuuming. I simply have strategically placed powerheads intermittently coming on during the day which direct any settled crud to my outlet. Then the natural turnover of my system just takes it away to my waiting mech side.
That's the best way of dealing with settled crud without doing a water change, or vacuuming.
Finer substrate, like pool filter sand, doesn't allow food and waste to sift down between the particles and when used in conjunction with strategically placed powerheads or pumps it rarely, if ever, requires vacuuming.
If you use that horrid large gravel that so many keepers seem to like...especially if it is the sharp, angular type...then you simply have to accept the need for vacuuming. Too much stuff finds its way down into that substrate. And I would avoid those vacuums that supposedly filter the water through a bag or some such arrangement and then return it to the tank. All they are doing is breaking most of the waste up into tinier particles and re-depositing it in your tank.
As esox stated, vacuuming and water changing go hand in hand. Embrace the suck!
If you use that horrid large gravel that so many keepers seem to like...especially if it is the sharp, angular type...then you simply have to accept the need for vacuuming. Too much stuff finds its way down into that substrate. And I would avoid those vacuums that supposedly filter the water through a bag or some such arrangement and then return it to the tank. All they are doing is breaking most of the waste up into tinier particles and re-depositing it in your tank.
As esox stated, vacuuming and water changing go hand in hand. Embrace the suck!
Look into a large ovrrsized canister filter. You can clean the tank by stirring up the substrate and getting all the muck into the water column. Depending on your aquarium volume you might need a pond canister.
Another option is a diatomaceous earth filter which mechanically filters so fine it's often called a polishing filter (and frequently used for fish shows/displays) but you would need to clean that frequently.
Are you trying to conserve water by reducing water changes?. A lot of countries have a water resource restriction. If that's the case, you can stir up the tank, remove dirty water into a water collection- holding tank to settle out for a day and then return the cleaned water back. On my largest tank, it would cost too much to water change frequently so I have 2 x 5000L rain tanks that act as settlement chambers. No media, no moving parts, nothing to clean out or go wrong. Just drop the flow to as slow as possible. Easy peasy.
Another option is a diatomaceous earth filter which mechanically filters so fine it's often called a polishing filter (and frequently used for fish shows/displays) but you would need to clean that frequently.
Are you trying to conserve water by reducing water changes?. A lot of countries have a water resource restriction. If that's the case, you can stir up the tank, remove dirty water into a water collection- holding tank to settle out for a day and then return the cleaned water back. On my largest tank, it would cost too much to water change frequently so I have 2 x 5000L rain tanks that act as settlement chambers. No media, no moving parts, nothing to clean out or go wrong. Just drop the flow to as slow as possible. Easy peasy.
Last edited: