Vacuum for the the Aquarium? Is it worth it?

[rheann]

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19139&category_id=3465&pcid1=1971
I am really wondering about this little device I found on www.bigalsonline.com If I got this, will I still have to do water changes, or does vacuuming all the waste out clean the water? I have no idea about this. I didn't even realize they made things like this. Even if it doesn't do water changes, I think I will get it anyway, that way I can get all of that nasty waste out, and then do a water change. Maybe if I get this, I won't have to get the canister filter until later. The plant bulbs that I put in the tank yesterday don't appear to have nay activity other than some fluffy clear stuff growing on them. The company that the bulbs come from garantee growth in 20 days, or they will send me some fresh bulbs, but is the fluffy clear stuff should it be there?

 

[nathan]

As it sucks the waste out I would think that water goes with it, so you could do water changes and vacuuming in one

 

[rheann]

Hi Nathan, the product says that it leaves the water behind, and only sucks out the waste. it stores the waste in a bag on the unit. That is why I am wondering if it cleans the water quality, so that i don't have to do water changes. I would really like to know some more about it. I am going to buy it tonight if I can find some info on it.

 

[dev]

it works like a turkey baster rheann, if you have sand a siphon is a better choice in my opinion.

 

[rheann]

Where can I find Sand a Siphon? What is that? A sand Vacuum of some sort? How much does it cost? can you give me a link? Thanks Dev

 

[anne-marie]

This is what I call a siphon. Sucks out the water and all the waste but generally spits back the heavier sand into the tank. Should be fairly cheap.

 

[rheann]

Thanks Anne

I have one of those, but i have a lot of trouble with it. It just doesn't work very well with a filter that also doesn't work very well. I would like to get one that Vacuums the waste out, but not the water. It would be easier for me to do water changes this way, as the syphon sucks so fast, that I don't get all of the waste out, and I end up getting more than a %20 percent water change. I'll try this product out in the link. If it doesn't work, I will return it. Thanks Anne

 

[dev]

Hmm bend the tube a little or get a smaller sized siphon. Siphon is the best in cleaning out the waste in my tanks i have 2 sand tanks and never had any troubles.

 

[rheann]

Ok, I went ahead and purchased it. I have a very small syphon. I think it might be somethign to do with the lack of Altitude maybe? I live in the Sacramento Valley. Maybe it doesn't, but at any rate it it doesn't work for me. It will work, it just doesn't clean very well and sucks way too fast.

 

[joan]

The thing with the vacuums that return the water, the 'waste' is collected in a little floss or mesh bag. This doesn't work with axolotls because their waste is powdery. So you'll end up just spreading the waste around the tank and not removing it. I prefer to siphon. It's a water change and a vacuum all in one. DEFINATELY get a turkey baster for 'spot removal'. Then siphon once a week or so. The siphon works best if your tank is up high and your collection bucket is down low (I use a 5 gallon, much better than an ice cream bucket, which fill up so fast that you do more emptying than siphoning). get it in the water, and fill up the tube (you can either suck on the end of the hose, or if this is too gross, just put your thumb over the end and let water flow into the end, and plug it when it comes out), stick it in the water, give it a few good pumps back and forth, and you should have a nice flowing siphon.

 

[dev]

I dont know why your siphons are sucking water up too fast I have a 10G and i fall asleep siphoning that thing up. I use the marineland siphon for 10G tanks. I can get around to every corner before 30-35% of the water is gone.

 

[kim]

I have a air driven Vac, and its great i attach it to my pmp, and it does the work. The bag is of a very fine material and dont let the poo go through it but the water does.. I recommend everyone to get one of these.. very easy to use, no pumping or sucking. i know loads of people with this and use it with no problems.

http://www.fishandfins.co.uk/images/power-cleaner.jpg

 

[rheann]

Thanks Kim

I ordered my product last night. if it doesn't work worth beans, then I will send it back and try out the product you recommend. It should get here in about a week. I am very excited to get it!

 

[cynthia]

Rheann - I have the battery operated penn plax super vac and it is similar to the one you ordered.

When I use it, I line the bag with filter floss and I do not vacuum up large poo. The way my vacuum works is by sending the water it pulls up through the impeller (thus liquifying poo and sending it out into the tank). Yours may work in a similar way.

It does work great for getting small crumbs o poo and small debris from the top of the sand. I do not use any attachment on the end of the tube. I just hold the tube right above the sand and it will suck up things from the surface of the sand.

I use this little vacuum every day on my sand. My axolotl tank gets vacuumed WAY more than my house does

(Message edited by cynorita on July 20, 2005)

 

[rheann]

lol thanks Cynthia

Hey, what is filter floss? Can I find this at Petsmart? I am asuming it has something to do with filters for Aquariums, unless it's a new type of dental floss lol.

 

[joan]

Filter floss is the 'filter' part of any type of filter media. In mine, it's blue. Sometimes it's white. You can buy large sheets of it at any good pet store (I highly do NOT recommend Petsmart).

 

[rheann]

Thanks Joan

I'll try At Capital Aquarium, and also try to order some off of www.bigalsonline.com

 

[cynthia]

Hey Kim that looks like a cool little vacuum I will have to try one.

 

[cynthia]

Rheann - this is filter floss
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24661;category_id=2569