how you clean the big tanks

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 4, 2008
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australia
Hello, now after a long time with small tanks I got my big baby (2m long 1m wide and 1m tall), it has also an land part and because of glass thickness(only 1cm) I can only fill it up to 65cm (still big). Now to the problems, how to clean the tank and gravel on the bottom easily, the tank has also on the bottom an outlet. The tank is on a stand and so the total heigh is 1.90m. Please give me some idea and how you do it with yor big tanks. I would like to go with sand bottom but Im not sure to keep it cleanwhen only cleaning from above.

thanks mfk members for your help
 
Light gravel vac and re fill, at that size you shouldn't have a problem
 
Like mentioned. Lightly gravel vac. Basic 101 tank cleaning.
 
with a sand bottom the poo doesnt get down into the substrate it just sits on top. i just use a garden hose to siphon my water out, when you get it down to about 2cm above the poo it picks it up and doesnt even disturb the sand.
 
When I had gravel in my 8'x4' tank I made a custom siphon with a longer tip...you can make them out of PVC pipe. I used to attach it to the garden hose.

This allowed me to reach the very back of the tank for gravel vacs without having to over stretch.

Since then I have gone bare bottom...I find it much easier to maintain..
 
hello and welcome to MFK.
so i am right there with you on this issue. i'll try not to start a debate but i also had trouble cleaning my substrate. i did the extension onto my siphon for cleaning during water changes and its still a PITA b/c trying to get in crevices or under deco usually results in sucking up sand:irked:(side note though go with sand, you will not regret it:thumbsup:)

anyways, what i have done is make a air driven vac. i do my w/c and get all the easily accesible debris, then when i'm done i just spend as much time as i need cleaning the rest. i can adjust the lift(note not suction) so as to not lift my sand but will pick up poo.

i'm sure there are other good ideas out there as this is the best forum EVER:headbang2. but thought i would get in my 2cents in. if your interested or have questions re: my vac let me know
 
Thanks for the warm welcome and the help and sugestions how to clean it.

That is my only little concern, dtanding on a ladder and get the dirt out with a poor view from above.

would like to go with sand but the outlet on the bottom wold also drain a lot of sand every time so I will see how it goes when I will set u all on the weekend.
 
VacPics012.jpg

I use the return hose to sweep the pooh out of the rockwork and gravel to the pick-up tube. Using the sweeping action it gets the gunk out of areas i would not be able to get to, without pulling out the rocks.
 
hey mate what exactly do u mean air driven vac? how does it work etc? I think i need something like that as i have very fine beach sand...

Dax
 
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