Water change vs. Siphoning...

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Bubbles0815

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 14, 2008
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Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Every 2 wks I do what I call a water change which includes siphoning the gravel. Reading through some threads on various topics it appears that water change is not the same as siphoning..?? If I can get away with siphoning once a month and only takign water from the top and adding new every two weeks I will definitely do that! Thoughts?..Expereinces?..Opinions?..

Irene
 
I take it you're using a Gravel Vac. It's good to use especially if you're changing your water every 2 weeks. Some of us have sand, so we siphon the top of the sand to pick up any waste that's sitting on top.
 
As far as I'm concerned, waterchange and siphoning are the same thing. EVERY TIME you do a water change you should try to siphon out any debris, feces, and left over food you see. Just address the issue before it becomes a problem really.

Most of us have sand in our tanks, so this makes it MUCH easier. Since the sand is more compact than gravel, all the gunk sits on top, which makes sucking it up a snap!! I normally siphon the top of the sand for a few minutes, then I just put some extra hose in the tank and let the siphon lay onto of the sand until the desired amount of water has been taken out. Kill two stones with one bird.

You start splitting things up like that, where you only siphon once every so often, it starts to make you lazy. Its best to just stick to your original routine and do things right from the start. ;)
 
I'll do several water changes before I bother with a gravel vac. I probably should do more, but I'm fairly lazy.
Hell, my tanks that are set up on a drip system go for months without a gravel vac.
 
It depends on if the tank is planted for me. My heavily planted 55 never gets a vac. The bare bottom breeding tanks twice a week. The 300g Monster tank once a week. All others inbetween. If that helps.:)
 
Peanut_Power;1990932; said:
As far as I'm concerned, waterchange and siphoning are the same thing. EVERY TIME you do a water change you should try to siphon out any debris, feces, and left over food you see. Just address the issue before it becomes a problem really.

Most of us have sand in our tanks, so this makes it MUCH easier. Since the sand is more compact than gravel, all the gunk sits on top, which makes sucking it up a snap!! I normally siphon the top of the sand for a few minutes, then I just put some extra hose in the tank and let the siphon lay onto of the sand until the desired amount of water has been taken out. Kill two stones with one bird.

You start splitting things up like that, where you only siphon once every so often, it starts to make you lazy. Its best to just stick to your original routine and do things right from the start. ;)
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:iagree:...completely.
 
I agree, you should siphon with every water change. Thats what really helps to keep the parameters in check
 
Bubbles0815;1991561; said:
Ok..I do siphon everytime since I have gravel. But I am seriously considering sand for my new 55. Like the idea of taking the junk off the top :)
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its much easier to keep your tank clean with sand. its also much more noticeable when it isn't clean.
 
Oh...well I'm kinda particular....:nilly:would using a net to skim off the top inbetween water changes work? Or what is used inbetween water changes..???

pcfriedrich;1991611; said:
its much easier to keep your tank clean with sand. its also much more noticeable when it isn't clean.
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