Steve, Thanks for the great idea. I have an old canister filter in my garage. I usually use an old filter sock but this looks like it will work much better. I would imagine I can also use this setup to vacuum out my sump. Thanks for the tip
no problem. this is great for those with canister filters laying around or for those who don't have one...can just pick one up for cheap just for this purpose.
Great minds think alike! I was thinking of this also but my idea was to connect straight with the outlet tube with a hose splitter. You'll then have to the ability to valve off the outlet, open the vac valve, clean tank, close vac valve, open outlet valve, and boom back to normal configuration. I'm doing that today. Hopefully it works.
What a great idea. Fantastic. I had two canister filters on my freshwater sold them but have no place for another in my 45 gallon stand but what a idea your a genius
thanks. the canister filter was sitting in the basement and the idea just hit me after using the sump sock method. this works GREAT! any size canister filter will do. i have a smaller one but i just this larger one since the smaller one is developing a leak somewhere.
Are you running the canister filter when you do this? or just a natural siphon? Where is your filtered water going into? A natural siphon wouldn't go back up into the tank, right? Or is it going into something in the bottom cabinet and being pumped back in? If you are running the canister filter, what is keeping all the sand from being sucked into the filter? I have a 6" sand bed. It looks clean except the top 1/2" where I have cyano (my fighting conch does a good job at getting down into the sand, but avoids the cyano). My goal is to clean the cyano from top of the sandbed and when I blast off the cyano from the rocks. I will use the filter floss and polishing pads in the canister. I will be adding a UV sterilizer in-line on my regular canister filter.
Great idea. I’m thinking about using my fluval 306 for this but I’m worried about it having bypass. I might go with an Eheim 2217, no worries about bypass.
this is a great idea. i did this after my initial set up to clear the water faster and again for the sandbed when it got bad. great for smaller tanks where huge water changes can mess up you levels. also great tunes :)
Since your not using a filter sock nor Rotter tube ( at the moment) I'm going to presume it's better? But if your using a sock or rotter tube than a normal syphon hose will be ok. I'm trying to put a handle on the benefits because while your doing a syphon filtration your doing a water change as well. Were you doing a water change with the canister or pumping the clean water back into the tank? I would imagine dumping the water into a bucket using this would be quite fast? Thanks again Steve for the brain picking
hey Bob, you are right, but i was not doing a water change. the reason i like doing this is because i'm not limited to stopping after a 5 gallon bucket is filled. i wanted to vacuum a good portion of the tank. i spent about 5 to 10 minutes on it using this method. my other video from a year ago shows how i did it with the sump sock...just running the syphon right into the sock. same principle as this canister.
sure, you can use your main canister filter. i never put any media in my canister filter except a layer of foam in each chamber, which was replaced weekly. i never used bio media especially in canister filters. it traps the bad stuff. rely on your rock for bio media.
nothing. just the thick foam molded block it came with for filtering, and 2 foam pads I cut to fit, for each vacuuming. it's only used for filtering, nothing else.
I did this same thing this week, but I got the highest ammomia spike of 2ppm afterwards. I had so much crap in my water ,Had to use prime to keep y fish from croaking. I think Ill stick with just using the 5Gal drums to vacuum
The reason for that may be you sucked out all the good bacteria from gravel in your set up. Also there are amonia pockets trapped in sand or thick gravel.
you certainly can, if you can get the syphon started. shouldn't be a problem if you fill the canister filter first. I don't fill mine. i just keep letting water run down it from the tank until it gets filled, then the syphon just starts.
How deep is that SB? Two inches? I put 70 lbs of sand in my 45 and I swear it's only 2 inches ( unless the watchman goby has spit all up and replaced it. The little shit
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Steve, Thanks for the great idea. I have an old canister filter in my garage. I usually use an old filter sock but this looks like it will work much better. I would imagine I can also use this setup to vacuum out my sump. Thanks for the tip
no problem. this is great for those with canister filters laying around or for those who don't have one...can just pick one up for cheap just for this purpose.
Great minds think alike! I was thinking of this also but my idea was to connect straight with the outlet tube with a hose splitter. You'll then have to the ability to valve off the outlet, open the vac valve, clean tank, close vac valve, open outlet valve, and boom back to normal configuration. I'm doing that today. Hopefully it works.
So I just finished it and it works great!
What a great idea. Fantastic. I had two canister filters on my freshwater sold them but have no place for another in my 45 gallon stand but what a idea your a genius
thanks. the canister filter was sitting in the basement and the idea just hit me after using the sump sock method. this works GREAT! any size canister filter will do. i have a smaller one but i just this larger one since the smaller one is developing a leak somewhere.
Are you running the canister filter when you do this? or just a natural siphon? Where is your filtered water going into? A natural siphon wouldn't go back up into the tank, right? Or is it going into something in the bottom cabinet and being pumped back in? If you are running the canister filter, what is keeping all the sand from being sucked into the filter?
I have a 6" sand bed. It looks clean except the top 1/2" where I have cyano (my fighting conch does a good job at getting down into the sand, but avoids the cyano). My goal is to clean the cyano from top of the sandbed and when I blast off the cyano from the rocks. I will use the filter floss and polishing pads in the canister. I will be adding a UV sterilizer in-line on my regular canister filter.
i'm running it. i'm being careful not to get close to the sand
Great idea.
I’m thinking about using my fluval 306 for this but I’m worried about it having bypass. I might go with an Eheim 2217, no worries about bypass.
this is a great idea. i did this after my initial set up to clear the water faster and again for the sandbed when it got bad. great for smaller tanks where huge water changes can mess up you levels. also great tunes :)
great idea for the initial setup of sandbed!
There you go again with awesome advice! Thanks, cause this is one we'll definitely use!!!
cool. thanks Tim
another great idea I was thinking about since I have a couple extra marineland canister filters.
yeah it works great! thanks
Definitely will use this idea after I get a sump
great tips rotter, love the sump sock with a clamp.
yeah, that works awesome! i do this now since i'm not using the socks.
This is such a genius idea!
Great idea but if sand accidentally gets into your canister filter doesn't it mess up your impeller?
i've never had that happen. same can go for a power head or return pump
How do you keep the sand from getting sucked up into the canister filter? Are you crimping the tube? Dialed the pump back?
YES crimping the tube as needed but i no longer vacuum in the sandbed at all. it's better not too, especially if you have a deep sandbed of 4" or more
Do you keep the water and return back to the tank ?
yes
Thank you
Since your not using a filter sock nor Rotter tube ( at the moment) I'm going to presume it's better? But if your using a sock or rotter tube than a normal syphon hose will be ok. I'm trying to put a handle on the benefits because while your doing a syphon filtration your doing a water change as well. Were you doing a water change with the canister or pumping the clean water back into the tank? I would imagine dumping the water into a bucket using this would be quite fast? Thanks again Steve for the brain picking
hey Bob, you are right, but i was not doing a water change. the reason i like doing this is because i'm not limited to stopping after a 5 gallon bucket is filled. i wanted to vacuum a good portion of the tank. i spent about 5 to 10 minutes on it using this method. my other video from a year ago shows how i did it with the sump sock...just running the syphon right into the sock. same principle as this canister.
+Rotter Tube Reef so your just running the water back into the tank then
yes, it goes down the syphon through the canister filter and right back into the sump.
U don't need a sump, just let the output go back in the tank since it went thru the filter. Nice, I'm gon a do it next week.
Can't believe I haven't seen it done before. Joey will be pissed lol.
?
Where did you get the nozzle? Thanks for the awesome idea. I have a canister filter I can use.
what nozzle? on the front of it? the syphon came with it
Bummer
Just read thst this is an old canister filter... Would u use your main canister filter to do this with the bio media still in there?
sure, you can use your main canister filter. i never put any media in my canister filter except a layer of foam in each chamber, which was replaced weekly. i never used bio media especially in canister filters. it traps the bad stuff. rely on your rock for bio media.
Interesting concept!!!
Sorry I should always write down my question. What else do you have in that canister besides filter pads
nothing. just the thick foam molded block it came with for filtering, and 2 foam pads I cut to fit, for each vacuuming. it's only used for filtering, nothing else.
+Rotter Tube Reef Perfect place to add a layer of polyfilter pads :)
Genius
Do u remove the bio media or leave it in but just add foam to all stages?
i never use bio media. never ever. i just use foam. use your rock and sand for bio media.
I did this same thing this week, but I got the highest ammomia spike of 2ppm afterwards. I had so much crap in my water ,Had to use prime to keep y fish from croaking. I think Ill stick with just using the 5Gal drums to vacuum
that's odd. you should never have any ammonia in your tank ever
The reason for that may be you sucked out all the good bacteria from gravel in your set up. Also there are amonia pockets trapped in sand or thick gravel.
Can I use this method on my fresh water tank with cichlids
I don't see why not. it's just vacuuming
awesome idea!
works great!
How long have you had your Vortechs? Ought to upgrade to the quieter more powerful model not that expensive
Hey Bob, the first mp40 going on 2 years. the 2nd one, about a year.
What's the piece called at the intake of the siphon tube? Looks like it just slides on
great tip 👍
thanks man
he'd be break dancing if it was playing while he was vacuuming
hey steve, I have a rear sump, any way this could work for my tank, ?
you certainly can, if you can get the syphon started. shouldn't be a problem if you fill the canister filter first. I don't fill mine. i just keep letting water run down it from the tank until it gets filled, then the syphon just starts.
What happened to the new sump or is this a older video ? But great idea bro
hey dude, good question. this was filmed a few weeks before the sump / refugium. just clearing out video footage from my phone. hehe. thanks!
+Rotter Tube Reef lol I thought so, good idea bro ,I'll say Rotter you come up with some good stuff brother
thanks man. i'm always thinking about everything
How deep is that SB? Two inches? I put 70 lbs of sand in my 45 and I swear it's only 2 inches ( unless the watchman goby has spit all up and replaced it. The little shit
2 inches, some spots 3 inches, but mostly 2
Better to just do water change.
yep, but i'm vacuuming the sand for a very long time this way, THEN doing a water change. this does not ever replace water changes.
It's a sad time in life when people think guitar hero pants are cool...
they're comfortable and yes, i would wear them in public, because i don't care. ugh! wear a shirt!