Posted: 1/19/2004 4:17:30 PM EDT
| I'm trying to figure out what I can use to secure a few bubble-rocks to the bottom of my tank, to save time cleaning and reassembling it. I already considered duct tape, but I don't know what the chemicals in the tape would do to the fish. Any ideas? |
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MMD, same idea, but a lot smaller(about 1" long)... The reason I want to secure it to the bottom is so that when I dump the tank(very small) to clean it, I don't have to mess around with trying to put the stones back in the same place. If I can figure out how to keep them stuck to the bottom, all I'd have to do is disconnect the air tube from the pump, and clean the tank as usual, without moving the air diffusers. |
| My tank really isn't that big(less than 10 gallons), so I'm guessing the siphon would be a little expensive for my operation. I do have a second, smaller tank I put the fish in when I'm cleaning out the big one(only about once a month, the filter takes care of it the rest of the time). |
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I'm a big fan of the siphon. My tank is 44 gal, and I can do BOTH the water change (20-25% per) AND clean the bottom at the same time. Remember, yer NOT trying to have your tank so clean you can eat off the bottom. Some bacteria in there is a good thing, and is healthy. Edited to add.... And its....well...intersting to watch all the fish poopies going up the tube. When they labelled fish "crappies" they weren't kiddin'. [:D] |
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To make a syphon all you need is some plastic tubing a larger then the type you connect your bubbler too...Get about 4 feet of it, fill the tubing w/water from a running fawcet. when the tubing looks full cover 1 end with your finger. Have a bucket on the floor-it must be lower then the tank. place the open end in the fish tank, take thumb off the other end and the water will flow out and into the bucket. Once you get the hang of it you'll be able to use it to suck up any crap in the tank. total cost 1-2 bucks for the tubing. |
| A 100% water change is not good for your fish. Use a siphon $4-$10 [url=http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3889&R=5682&N=2004+113565&in_merch=1]LOOK HERE[/url] and only change 25% of the water at a time. Using a siphon will be much easier and less mess. It will also save you the trouble of having to set everything up every time you clean the tank. If you're using tap water let it sit out at least 24hrs before adding it to the tank. That will give the chlorine time to off gas. |
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Thanks for all the help, I just tried the siphon, and dang, that's pretty cool! Cleaning the tank is gonna be a whole lot easier now. I am using tap water, it hasn't seemed to hurt 'em yet, but I'll let it stand a day before I add any more water to it. Thanks again. Wow, the cold meds must be getting to me...I failed to realize that I have well water, and we don't chlorinate it, so the water should be fine right out of the tap. |
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Be aware that your tapwater might not just be chlorine treated. The majority of treatment plants now use chloramine, a mix of chlorine and ammonia. Simply letting water sit will not rid the water of this. Also when dealing with chloramines, using a simple dechlorinator based on sodium thiosulfate will neutralize the chlorine, but will also set the ammonia free in the water. I recommend a product such as Amquel or Ammo-Lock 2, which will also neutralize the free ammonia. Simply anchor airstones down with your substrate. |
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EXP44, You can use silicone (use 100%, NOT a silicone/latex mix) and it will work fine as well as being removable if you want to change things later. Also, do the partial water changes as others ahve suggested. A siphon works great if you have sand on the bottom. |