Gravel Cleaning
Sadly Gravel cleaning is one of those things that most people miss out in the aquarium maintenance and it is the most important task. As with most UK Aquariums there are very few plants in the aquariums so a build up of detritus builds up unseen in the gravel. Due to this phosphate and Nitrate levels increase causing an outbreak of algae and when it gets very high the fish start to mysteriously die off.
So as part of a weekly maintenance regime a quick gravel wash can be incorporated with the weekly water change. One of the best bits of inexpensive kit that you will buy for your Aquarium will be a gravel cleaner. There are quite a few to choose from and they mostly work on the same siphon principal and are very easy to use.
1. Place the gravel cleaner completely submerged into the aquarium including tubing. Have a bucket on the floor under the aquarium.
2. Put your thumb or finger over the siphon tube and lift out over the aquarium, making sure the wide big rigid tube stays under the water.
3. Release your thumb or finger when the siphon tube is over the bucket, and by simply raising or lowering the end of the siphon you can regulate the flow.
4. Clean the gravel by pushing the end of the large bore tube into the gravel and watch the dirt get sucked out agitating and leaving the gravel behind.
Continue this going round the plants try not to go through the roots if possible. A bucket of water is about the correct amount for a 3’ aquariums in one go unless it is extremely dirty. If it is extremely dirty and there are high phosphate and or nitrate levels a lot of small water changes are better than one massive change. If the phosphate or Nitrate is very high then a phosphate/Nitrate remover should be used along with water changes and gravel washes every other day until levels return to normal. The two best removers are a Polyfilter or Cleanwater both are either added to an external filter or an internal filter.
ValueAquatics offer what we think is the best Gravel cleaner on the market the Interpet Prime Gravel Cleaner comes in five sizes Mini, Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large for those deep aquariums. The interpet Gravel Cleaners come with an integrated one way valve in the head so that the siphon can be started by plunging the gravel cleaning end up and down in the water to start the siphon. I do not like this method as it causes a lot of stress to the fish I prefer the method I described earlier it is quicker and less stressful to the fish.
James
Tags: aquarium