I hate gravel/sand vacuuming, any ideas?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Bucko;2755702; said:
What you need is an miniature automated pool filter that wanders around by itself...lol
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I really don't want to do any kind of vacuuming, powered or not, I plan on doing water changes by pumping out water using the FX5 and thats it.

I guess it is not possible then?
 
kevin007;2755094; said:
No way is a bare bottom tank a possibility.

Your idea sounds great! How much decor do you have in your tank?

I think I might set up the tank like a reef tank, b/c both tanks have a great amount of rockwork and you don't take out the rocks regularly.
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Heres the decor in my tank
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In the pic you can see where the pump is located. It just ends up pushing everything 6 feet down, which eventually has to turn around and come back. I made a t inlet drilled holes in some PVC and wrapped them in blue pad for filtration. When I start seeing poop stay on the sand, time to clean the pad. 5min later after cleaning and nothing is on the sand anymore.

And like someone said above make a undergravel jet system. Spend a few bucks in PVC and stagger the jets around the tank so there are no dead spots and walla.
 
ITHURTZ;2757604; said:
And like someone said above make a undergravel jet system. Spend a few bucks in PVC and stagger the jets around the tank so there are no dead spots and walla.
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Very interesting, I'll try to do something similar.

As for undergravel jet systems, I've read people talking about it on cichlid forums - the general consensus is that it is not a good idea. I probably won't do it.

I will try to get multiple powerheads (hydro koralias) and try to postion them to pump water through the rock structure.

Sump + FX5 + 2217 + 3-4 Koralia, I just need a better idea on placement. Your sand looks great btw, very clean!
 
Thanks. Ya a power head will do the trick to. I dont see why a undergravel jet would be bad?
 
I saw a thread on another forum and UGJ don't seem to work for everybody.

I think aiming 3 koralia 4s in different spots of the rockpile will keep the waste from accumulating. Eventually, the waste should end up in the sump/canisters, hopefully.

I mean, how do reef keepers keep the poop from accumulating in the live rocks?
 
why no bare bottom?
 
Austin;2759770; said:
why no bare bottom?
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I like the look of having sand on the bottom. Besides mbunas like to sift through sand. I want to keep them happy too :)

A Malawi tank with 600 lb of limestone and no sand will look weird!
 
i think it's more healthy to vacuum yourself!
 
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