aquarium keepers

[flybyferns]

Any tips on how to get the rest of this substrate out ?
I am not planning on replacing it.
I removed 99% over the past - several - water changes. ( of which I do weekly--maybe the past 6 weeks or so )
I'm running 2 very well cycled / well stocked fluval 405s - I believe this is 75 gallons. ( I know ----overkill , but I have them ...might as well use them)

The only 2 products every used in this tank is stress coat and tetra black water.
The yellow/orange discus are 5 years old and the blue one is and old man -he's 8.

The typical water parameters did not budge during this....I have not rinsed ( seldomly do and never change ) the sponge filters; I though I'd wait a bit longer?




Thanks

[deranged chipmunk]

You're planning on making it a bare bottom tank? Not a bad idear with discus. The only thing I can think of is siphoning the rest of the substrate out with a larger diameter tubing. Something like 1/2 I.d. (About $10 at homedepot). Think of it like using an aquarium vacuum without the chamber.

Other than draining, drying it out with a hair dryer and then vacuuming it. I'm at a loss. Discus, as you know, are way too sensitive to just toss into a temp holding tank and then returning them.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Mentat]

As per Bill's idea; I have removed fine sand/gravel with a 1/2 in. (internal diameter) hose too. Larger ones can be used but starting siphon is harder, they are less flexible, and can fill a 3-5 gal. pail very fast.

Get a piece long enough to reach from aquarium bottom to pail and after starting suction; direct hose to substrate piles. Initially moving all substrate to a corner with a blade less gravel cleaner or similar will facilitate removal.

Things to watch out for are that your pail does not overfill flooding floor and that the larger gravel pieces might clog tubbing. Good luck and have fun !

[flybyferns]

I tried that. pain pain pain
Unfortunately there are larger gravel pc still in there.
They gets stuck in the 1/2 tubing

I have 1" tubing ..but like Carlos said----I thought I was going to flood the living room. lol
Plus it removes the water too fast and removes more water then I usually remove w a H2O change.

I'll try again tomorrow- carefully - with the 1" ~~~~~

I use a python for water changes it has 1/2 or 5/8 tubing ?

What a pain ...I've been using a spatula.
I guess I'm just sick of it already !!!!!

My poor fish have silt in their gills. Grrrrr

BTW I'm sending pkgs on tuesday ( UPS )
Bill yours has Bean Beetles and little surprises. It's your Hamburg Goody bag.
Carlos - I'm sending you an imitator catcher and little thingies w/ spikes for imi egg deposits.
( my imis are ignoring them so far) we'll see ?

[deranged chipmunk]

A python normally has 1/2" tubing. It's all about patience lol


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Mentat]

...Carlos - I'm sending you an imitator catcher and little thingies w/ spikes for imi egg deposits.
( my imis are ignoring them so far) we'll see ?

I had to empty a sand bottom one for the Budgett recently. Guess I've done it so many times have it down to a science. Wish we where closer, would had given you a hand. Thanks again for the Imi's gear .

[junebug]

Cat litter scoops (brand new ones, obviously) are good for removing large grain substrate. Aside from emptying and hosing out the tank....

[Shontovia]

I don't have any advice too helpful right now, but in the future if you are having trouble with aquarium advice, I recommend joining bettafish and and I believe it's fishforums. They're basically like this forum, only for tropical fish. Even the one focusing on bettas has other sections for all fish and everyone is extremely friendly and willing to help out, just like here.