How to Safely Gravel Vacuum Your FishTank + Easy Cleaning & Siphon Starting Tricks for Your Aquarium
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- Опубліковано 21 кві 2021
- this video is a wholistic look at the effects of gravel Vacuuming your aquarium. It can range from being a necessary part of maintenance, to a deadly disturbance to the PH, Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites and or TDS of your aquarium. In this video I cover some basics of how to use a gravity fed Siphon aka gravel vacuum, both with and without the hand assisted squeeze bulb pump.
Don't ever be embarrassed or afraid to ask questions in this community. we all have to learn things at one time or another, and gravel Vacuuming, aquarium maintenance, algae cleaning and filter maintenance or cleaning are not subjects anyone should be expected to know intuitively.
So if you are a seasoned pro who just wants to brush up on some basics of how to gravel vac a style of tank you haven't kept in years, or you are brand new to the hobby of fishkeeping and aquascaping- this is for you! We cover Sand substrate, Active planted tanks, gravel, layered and dirted tank methodology in this episode, as well as some tips and tricks for starting a water changing Siphon, without sucking on a tube or hose. enjoy!
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love this guy, really knows his stuff and explains it really well. thank you.
Lots to think about here. I was digging into the gravel for a long time, but just recently stopped digging in and just doing a light vacuum over the top. Thanks for the info, my friend!
Of course! Every tank is different and plenty of tanks have enough filtration that it doesn't matter really, but it helps to be aware of possible issues that could arise from x,y or z. Then act accordingly. I hope you have a great weekend coming up Rick!
Thanks for this. You have just confirmed WHY I keep getting these ammonia spikes and a few crashes. I started suspecting it had to do with how I was gravel vaccing, and now I am convinced. So yesterday I needed to spruce up two tanks, so I just skimmed over the substrate and took out all the loose garbage but left the underside alone. All my tanks are doing great now.
So glad to hear! Best wishes from here out. Sounds like things will go smoother for you :)
Great video, I crashed my community tank around 6 months ago and lost almost everything by disturbing year old gravel that I had never touched, its great to finally see a video explaining this in detail, I knew what I had done straight away, but I work away a week at a time so all I could do is change as much water as I could before leaving, everything was dead or dying by the time I got back, I had 3 peacock gobies that survived but one seems to have severe stunted growth a couple of mollies, also with stunted growth, my vampire shrimp is still alive and going strong, I had about 1000 cherry reds in there all gone.
Sorry to hear that. But most of us have been there, - done that if you keep fish long enough
I’m so glad to have discovered your videos recently. I had gotten a small vacuum for my planted tank, but I was so reluctant to vacuum since everything seems clean and happy. I’ll be getting a Turkey baster now and letting my substrate do it’s own thing. Ty ty ty! 🙂👍
Right on! That's my preferred method for the aquascape tanks (not in the video...but in the thumbnail there is one of my current scapes.) It allows for near total control and precision when working in the tank, and doesn't disturb the ecosystem from being established and balanced, as a real lake or river would.
Welcome to the community!
SO helpful for this newbie!
I'm so glad!
Awesome guide, thank you.
Brilliant ! Lucid and well put together . Thank you for delving into different types of substrates ....
Of course! Thanks for watching. Have a great sunday!
A wealth of information, I needed a refresher, thanks!
Wow....Alex, your up EARLY this morning!
I got my 2nd vaccine shot and feel too crappy to sleep lol
@@Fishtory I got my 2nd shot Thursday, had massive reaction last night! Fever, n/v/d, explosive joint pain, etc..Don't wish this on anyone! Hope you are feeling better, too! BTW- I don't gravel vac. If the fish are gonna give me fertilizer, I'm gonna let them!
Just binge watching some of your earlier videos. So informative! Thank you !❤🇨🇦
THANK YOU!
So detailed. Ty
Glad it was of use. Thanks for tuning in, Maggie!
Good info man thanks.
Glad to be of assistance! Thanks for tuning in
Easy to understand explanation.
Glad to hear it. Thanks for tuning in. Cheers
Really appreciate that you give us helpful , through ideas and solutions. A lot of other videos seem selling / advertising products during all the videos.
Sure thing. If I reaaaaally love a product, I'll talk about it...and I talk about my deal with aquatic arts but otherwise I try and stick go non-profit causes and let people make up their own mind, unless they ask specifically
Thanks for the awesome video. I am slowly learning less is more in most cases. Let the biology of the tank do the work.
You got it now, my friend!
Thank you for the info. Just set up first sanded bottom
Great video on a rarely talked about but important subject.
Thanks. I know most my viewers are beyond all this, but I wanted a link on my channel to reference if people need some guidance- in great detail. (And hopefully not causing anyone to feel ignorant or silly for needing to learn the info). Thanks for watching!
@@Fishtory I have a 38 gallon heavily planted tank on CO2. It has a under gravel filter plus a Tidal 55 hob filter along with a some what heavy fish load. I feed once a day 6 days a week and I tend to feed a bit heavy. I rarely have to gravel vac and when I do it is only in spots. The rest of my tanks get gravel backed as needed. I've been a fish keeper for 25 years and this is the first time I've seen this subject addressed, thanks again for this video.
Great tips my man
Thanks mate! I appreciate you tuning in
Just came across your videos recently, lots of good info thanks for the help you’ve given me
So glad they are helpful for you! Thanks for tuning in. Cheers, have a great week
Thank you for sharing.... ✌
Glad to. Thank YOU for stopping by the channel. Tank on.
You look a lot better nowadays man
Thanks lol... im kinda fat... new meds the last 4 months, but it has helped the lupus symptoms a lot.
I hope you are having a great week, and thank you for watching the video and for the support
@@Fishtory rounder is cuter just saying 😜
@@Fishtory lupus is a test, in and of itself. I am glad they found new meds that are working for you.
Thank you for taking the time to clearly explain why disturbing the substrate is not always a good thing. I get tired of trying to explain how natural biotopes work, and the difference between a 'lazy' fishkeeper, and a responsible, has learned how to work *with* nature, fishkeeper.
Take care of yourself, you are a huge help to a lot of new aquarists (and old timers, too).
@@Lazy_Fish_Keeper So sorry to hear you have Lupus. Many of my friends do. I love your good, happy attitude. That helps the symptoms somewhat better...much prayers and good thoughts your way, Bud!
This is most needed to learn. Thank you.
I’m a turkey Bastet user lol thank you for the tips Alex you always explain things so simply
Aww thanks...I was afraid I was getting a bit convoluted and wordy.. but there's quite a bit of nuance to the subject if you want to learn the correct answer to "how should you Gravel Vacuum". As always, thanks for your comment and viewing
Wow. I learned so much. I will try them later today after my errands. I currently have a 6.6G Betta Kit Tank, and 2 5G Quarantine Tanks. I am just starting to build the substrate layers.
I have been struggling with siphoning in these small tanks.
I am recovering from a fall and between the post concussion traumatic brain injury, torn rotator cuffs, and spinal injuries... I am definitely not as agile as I was before the accident.
I am sorta new, I had a big Freshwater Community Tank with different Gourami species between 1980 and 2005. Due to moving and recovery from injuries, I gave away my tanks. I turned 70 in October and treated myself to a Betta. I saw him between 2 dead Bettas and knew that he was it. I needed to start with a small easy tank to see if I could manage it. Since October, I had decided that I could do this and decided to create a large room-divider with a 55G Aquarium and stand. With help with rearranging, I now have it in place.
I have been buying plants and fish and started 2 Quarantine Tanks. I have been running my new HOB Water Filter in my existing Tank, along with a few Driftwood pieces, Rocks, and small bags of Fluval Ceramic BioMedia in them. I am seeding the 55G with gravel and Water-Filter tank water from each of my tanks. I was also given some Floating Plants and a quart sized container of their substrate and water to add to seeding this new tank.
I know that this 55G is too tall for my Betta, so I got him a 20G Long tank that is as tall as what he is currently in... 12".
I am building this 20G Long's Substrate layer at the same time as I am this 55G. I am currently in a small apartment, so I will make one mess for doing both tanks.
I am planning to heavily plant both tanks, and create caves and tunnels with rocks and Driftwood.
I have adjustable heaters for both and the HOB Water Filter for both have already been running. I have pieces of Driftwood and Rocks already established and have their biofilm growing. The Brown Bristlenose Plecos and my Nerite Snails and already enjoying them in the existing tanks... ready to transfer. I will be adding more as I start aquascaping. But at least, there will be a few things that they know are tasty in their new home.
I am currently using the Aqueon HOB Water Filter that is adjustable for the Betta will buy the Fluval HOB Water Filters as I can switch them. I also have a large Sponge with an Air-stone for the 55G. I will get a smaller Sponge Filter for the 20G Long, as well when I can. I am not planning on maxing either tank.
At least for now, I am not planning on breeding anything, but as I start increasing my numbers to a nice shoal size for what species that I do have... Nature can take its own course. I could only get 2 Bronze Cory Cats. I haven't found any more since then. I was told that they are too plain. I like them. So, I am looking for 3 to 5 more. I have 5 Brown Bristlenose Plecos. That is a small shoal to start with. I have 5 Chocolate Kuhli Loaches which makes a nice shoal. Maybe, I will be blessed to have at least 1 male in each shoal. Ahh, and I have my Betta Taylor and a Dwarf PeaPuffer. I bought Petey to help trim down the Bladder Snails and Ramshorn Snails that came with the Watersprite and Hornwort. Now, I to rinse well and to quarantine them to make sure that no more eggs will hatch. I have 6 Nerite Snails. I love those Snails.
So, thanks Alex for a great presentation. I learned a lot.
I am making the substrate layers deep... about 4"... ~2" of substrate layer of soil mix and a 2" Sand Cap. I am believing that this will be the best combo.
Used to have a tank maybe 15 or 20 years ago, got back into the hobby 3 years ago. Back then I used to think you had to do water changes and I had no plants in the tank, but now with the substrates and plants easily available in my area I really like having a natural planted tank. In fact I really only do water changes when the hardness gets too high. I've had CRS in a tank now, no water changes for 6 months and they're happy and healthy; a nice robust natural ecosystem is more important than water changes.
Oh yeah, and I love how lazy it is lol. The water regulates itself, messing with it can make blooms and everything, so much less risk when it's a natural system.
Right on haha. If you set it up properly, it does take care of itself most of the time :)
Great advice Alex. Mini people need help figuring out their maintenance processes.🐠🦯🦮
Thanks buddy. I know most my viewers are beyond all this, but I wanted a quick reference video- in great detail (hopefully not causing anyone to feel ignorant or silly for needing to learn the info).
@@Fishtory of course they are going to be vevo beyond it, but I know you remember what it was like when you first started keeping fish. The only advice I got was if I found a book or manage to weasel some information from the old guy at the fish store. Every bit of detailed advice that can be looked up makes things that much easier for the new hobbyist. Keep up the great work!🐠🦯🦮
Great vid, I take the siphon ball and use at the end instead of in the middle. Much easier to prime pump immediately and you can pop it off quickly if it gets clogged and still continue to siphon.
Great Tip! I'll try it tonight!
@@Fishtory that just made my day bro! 👍🏽👍🏽
Perfect timing I’m about to do maintenance! I had a larger siphon but the pump and column stopped working so I got a mini python without a pump. It’s better for my smaller tanks!
Glad to hear it! Have a great day, and thanks for tuning in- and dropping a comment. Cheers
OMG thank you!!!!!! I was doing this soooo wrong!
Glad to help a bit l, then. Thanks for tuning jn
@@Fishtory This was super helpful for me too, I never learned this and wasn't sure why I had an ammonia spike right after a water change.
Wow! Great info! Everyone says VACUUM THE BOTTOM! But they never explain when “not” to.
Glad it's useful for you :) I figured it was actually fairly complex and could use a 15 or 20 min break down
I love to hear more about caring for filter less aquariums
You're in luck! ua-cam.com/video/CLaWAYem6aw/v-deo.html
@@Fishtory thank you! I love all your videos lots of info gained every time I watch. I recently started my first no filter aquarium.
ua-cam.com/video/61JmcqyYLrc/v-deo.html
Thanks this was so informative. Maybe this is why I've struggled to keep shrimp alive
Perhaps? Give it a try :)
Subscribed
I'm so excited to be home and get to start watching videos again!! It's just incredible to see you in your new fish room 😍
Thanks for all the tips, tricks an education you bring us!! Alexander Williamson you rock 🙌🤜🤛🌿🐟🌿🤗🙏
Welcome home! Let me know when you're settled and we can chat on the phone and catch up soon! I hope you're doing well. Hugs and love to you and Calvin
Great video .liked and subscribed! I have a black sand substrate and I've been using root tabs in my planted aquarium I'm having a problem with roots surfacing.. in my stem plants and especially my vallisneria. The roots then collect a lot of detritus. That my Cory cats love to fluff up in the water .. What would you suggest as far as holding them down? I was thinking of capping off with fluval stratum ?.I do have hard water .
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
Subscribed to your channel
Good topic have to agree with u there plus by not distributing ur substrate u create anaerobic bacteria which illuminates ur nitrates perfect eco system I haven't touched my substrate in ten years water change every 3 months nitrates stable always at 5ppm
Bingo! Nice. Thanks for sharing your insights and experiences
Morning Alex...educate me boi...
Then how are you putting root tabs and inserting cuttings into the substrate if puncturing the surface is going to spike the tank?
Hi i wanted to know how long you keep your light on for? Also i have mot gravel vac my tank over a year recently i added more substrate on top. I dont do frequent water change but to do have plants. No fish died no ammonia or nitrates after testing the shrimps are breeding but i used to feed a lot of food but now i feed every other day or 2 and once a day. Its running a lot better.
Early on I keep lights bright and on 5 to 7 hours...once it's older and cycled I keep the lights on 8-12 hours ...longer for more plants less if algae begins
About the detritus worms- I wiped them off the front of the tank w/some fresh poly sponge (filter media) when I changed the water today (after I took the video earlier)- will that get their population down? I’ve been putting way less food in the tank without the fish but maybe the fish were eating some because I didn’t notice them before, really... 🦐🐌🥺
The fish eat them a ton. Panda loaches specifically, love them and don't touch baby shrimp.
Hi! So when we do top offs, we still need to add the declorifier correct, or no?
Ideally you should still add an eyedropper or two- sized dose of Dechlorinator. However, if you have low chlorination (the water isn't blue or green when you fill a bath or a sink, and doesn't smell like a pool) then it will likely be okay at the end of the day
I hope you have a great Sunday
Thank you and you as well
I wish I would've known this before I made this mistake thinking I was doing good but it was a disaster 😦.
I quickly figured it out that I had sucked up the ammonia from the substrate that caused the death spike. Now that I know why a deeper substrate goes anaerobic and actually creates more ammonia (which is great for plants because they prefer ammonia instead of nitrates), disturbing it was like a bomb went off of toxic waste.
Then I found out that if you have a way for fluids to move more freely under the substrate adding more oxygen, instead of things fermenting in anaerobic conditions, you create anoxic (low oxygen) conditions so ammonia can be processed completely down to nitrogen gas. So I made a slow moving plenum and I avoid digging down through the gravel now and just let nature do its thing. My plants are growing like crazy still with nice white roots and no blackening under the rocks or funky smells. So far I'm really happy with it.
I wonder if you've had any experience with anoxic filtration and what's your take on using Plenums or backed clay for an aquarium? I'd love to know your thoughts on this topic.
From what I understand in nature there's no glass bottom in a lake 3-4 inches down. It's hundreds of feet of clay, sand, silt and stones that's constantly moving fluids and positive charged ions through the layers very slowly. But in order to replicate this in a home aquarium, we need to raise the substrate off the bottom to allow that fluid and oxygen exchange for the right bacteria to be able to break down the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphorus.
But anaerobic bacteria do the opposite making more ammonia which builds up into a death trap (unless you have enough plants to utilize the ammonia, low fish load and never ever disturb the cap and hopefully get that delicate balance). And for fish only tanks, that can mean the huge crash just waiting to happen, because you need a way to export the ammonia building up below if you're not cleaning the substrate regularly, or if your filter can't process it fast enough. At least that's what I understand from my observations.
Yeah if you search anoxic of anaerobic bacteria or filtration, i have like 10 videos or so
@@Fishtory thanks! I'll look them up. 😊
That is why I go with substrate free aquariums other than eco complete in small pond baskets for swords and crypts. Poweheads near the bottom keep al solids in suspension until they are removed by the filter intakes.⁰
That'll keep things crystal clear :)
Hey I know this is an old video so Idk if you'd see thus but I'm totally new to having fish. I recently got my first fish (a black moor goldfish. His name is georgie for anyone who's interested) and something just seems off with him. I currently do not have a filter in the tank as it did not arrive on time but it is en route. I've been watching him and he keeps taking huge mouthfuls of food then spitting it back out before moving to another spot and repeating the process. I did some research at it suggests it is distress due to inideal water conditions or a dirty tank and I was just wondering if gravel vacuuming would help this? I have one freefloating plant, some gravel and a little ornament in my tank currently
Water changes and light gravel vacuuming will help...more plants and even an airstone or some water movement will really help too. It's probably nitrates or ammonia building up, if you did not have time to cycle/ know about the nitrogen cycling process. Keep changing 30% or 50% of water every day for a week or so and it should start to cycle and also balance out. Best wishes
👍
👍
Yo buddy just did my 40% water change
Seachem flourite I give it a light vacuum
What do you do when your bulbless siphon loses siphon power while siphoning? I it due to the angle of the tube? And, unfortunately I may have crashed my tank siphoning mulm and I'm losing all my fish with ich. I'm treating with ich-x. Do you have video's on ich? Thankful for your information regardless of how over stated you think you might have been!!
I have discussed ich/ick a few places but as long as you don't have any cold water fish species, the best thing to do, is water changes of 30% every other day and turn the heat to 86 degrees for 10 to 12 days... this temp will kill all ich eggs (cysts) and you can add catapa leaves or some tannin rich materials to sooth the sores your fish already have- since the temp kills all the eggs but the adult parasites will just have to die...but they only live 4 to 10 days anyhow...so in the time you raise that temp, they'll slowly disappear.
If your bulb free Siphon loses power, just simply pump it by thrusting the gravel vac intake tube , into the tank rapidly a few times. I did it rather quickly in the video (the 3rd time I demonstrated using a bulb bulbless Siphon. It's surprisingly easy.
However, it doesn't work if you tube is all the same diameter...you need the wider pipe as a mouth of the siphon... just using a garden hose or something doesn't work that well with this method
@@Fishtory I truly appreciate your reply. Thank you!
So in a extra fine sand tank, with 2 years of accumulates waste under the sand line along the glass (tank gets cleaned regularly). Do you clean or not? Ive got plants, very light bioload, clean canister filter, but constantly high nitrates (i do not add plant food). The only thing i have not tried is cleaning the "under substrate".
Hmmm it sounds like you need more plants tapping into the nutrient layer.... as of now its starting to overspill and rise nitrates i think. It could also be that your light isnt strong enough to power the plants to "eat " the nitrates fast enough.
But some stem plants or floating plants should help a bunch
11:00
Hello. Does it mean that it's not the best idea to have even a small group of corydoras (say it's a group of four in a 10 gallon community) if I want this mulm to build up and sift through/into sand? Sometimes they can get too playful
So a minimum or 5 or 6 is best if you have less than that, they won't behave like normal...they hide more or join other groups of fish and rely on prepared foods...where as groups of them feed in the mulm and hangout on the bottom much more. The only trouble is that if you have a super small tank they may also act more lazy and sit around waiting for pellet or flake food all day.
@@Fishtory alright. But what if it's a decent group of corys? and the question was not so much about their wellbeing, but the process of mulm sifting into fine sand. Have you noticed their running on the bottom and in the mulm behavior elongating that process? I tried to find some clues to that question in the web, but failed. Maybe I'm overthinking it? :) I just find mulm crusial for resolving the problem of nutrient deficiency of substrate overtime in a Walstad/Father fish tank
Hey, I got a question.....I'm using Dragon Stone in the tank I'm cycling. I was already aware that the PH was probably gonna be affected because I left them in a bucket full of water for a test and it dropped......The water out of my Tap is literally perfect at 7.0.....It 100% of the time my tap is always perfect.....but I notice that the PH drops to like 6.0-6.4ish.....(Hard to tell the exact color) but my question is....Is the PH now settled or is it gonna continue to go down if I just leave it? The few fish I have in there to cycle the tank seem to be fine......they are eating and what not....but 6.0 seems kinda low.....but when I get to the point that I don't need to do so many water changes will my PH keep dropping?
It generally settles after a week or two, as long as you are removing water and adding more 7.0 ... if you only top off the evaporated water, then it gradually can creep more and more until it is equal to that of the stone itself.
Very wise of you to test the stone in a bucket first! Right on. Most dragon stone tends to raise the TDS (Clay just sorta melts off it) and only move the PH a minimal amount. However, it can be sourced at least 5 different quarries that I've heard of...and things like Volcanic Ash, limestone silt or carbon from wildfires over the eons, can cause some odd effects depending on each source and the location it was quarried (top of the mountain vs dug out 5 years after they open the place etc.)
Unless you have African rift lake cichlids, or livebearers that are still close to wild generations...that sort of acidity should be okay in the majority of species.
Consistency is always more key than the details, in my experience.
Best wishes, my friend.
@@Fishtory
After the stones sat in the bucket I scrubbed the CRAP out of them to get as much of the loose clay as I could.....I even tried to get in the nook and cranies with a small wire brush and brushed just enough where I wasn't tearing chunks off....Sound advice from you as usual......Can't wait for the next video....I'll be joining your monthly subscription at some capacity probably this weekend......thanks Alex
Mercy, I’m new and have been digging in my gravel twice a week and causing ammonia to show up again 🤦🏼♀️
Well it sounds like you figured out the issue you're having, so hopefully things stabilize for you and the hobby will be less stressful :)
Cheers and best of luck to you
Alex, thanks for this video.
It's well thought out, thorough and you make it very easy to understand the "why" of things.
Note to ALL beginners: subscribe to this channel, Father Fish, MJ Aquascape and Primetime Aquatics...these people are truly gifts in all that they share.
That is very kind of you to say, my friend! Thank you for your support and endorsement. I hope you have a great weekend. Cheers!
What if my substrate is just about an inch/inch and a half of gravel? Is it still super harmful to try and suck up all the stuff in the substrate
Still watching the vid so this was probably answered lol
Haha. Well it depends... as long as you have good filtration running, it should be fine... but if you have a very old tank with the substrate full of mulm and muck, I'd leave it alone and only pick up left over food, dead plants or dead fish.
If you've always vacuumed it regularly , then usually you can keep doing that...its the big shift that will cause a potential spike in nitrogen based compounds.
@@Fishtory hmm. Okay. I've had a problem with cloudy water since I set up the tank less than 2 months ago. Its a 20 gallon long with an aqueoun quiet whisper or whatever filter on the back. I gravel vacuum about once a week but the cloudiness won't go away
A deep/capped substrate allows the anaerobic bacteria in the lower level to complete the nitrate cycle and convert it into nitrogen gas!
Correct. I have a video on doing filterless tanks, both deep substrate and slowly weaned off filtration with dense plants.
I feel a bit better about not siphoning the gravel in my shrimp tank. I was burying the tube to avoid sucking up the shrimp or curious guppy fry. Then about a month ago I was inspecting the waste water before dumping, ended up rescuing 10 baby shrimp only about 1-2mm long. I'm so worried about doing that again that I now only siphon water out of the back of the tank (fluval flex 15g).
You are totally correct. I usually just Siphon out of the hang off the back or a corner where I wave away the shrimp and debris, some people cut the feet off Leggings or pantyhoes and place thest over the intake (but it gets so clogged so first, that I don't use it much anymore.
Depending on your tank inhabitants, the whole 'not vacuuming the bottom' doesn't always work. Columnaris, Saprolegnia etc.
That is a good point. Thank you
The Secret History Living in Your Aquarium Keeoing aquariums for 15 years and only came to terms with it this year. I only really worry about my Asian bred guppies and Betta - also my Asian bred Discus I am a little worried about... you’re right that most fish do fine this way.
great info...but im not buying that that power strip is just there temporarily...
It's on the floor in a drip loop ....but very much still there used to this day haha
I put up a video on UA-cam (no, I don’t want to be a UA-camr lol) but I was told by flip aquatics not to gravel vac/clean the bottom of my shrimp tank so I haven’t but I had a couple fish in there, which I removed after the shrimp had babies. Well, I guess I have detritus worms (they’re holding on to the glass) I have a billion little shrimplets in there, how can I get the population of detritus worms under control? Supposedly they come in w plants & I put a few in there (& a couple different snails) but if you have any advice, I INCREDIBLY APPRECIATE IT ❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍🦐🦐🦐🐌🐌🐌😲😮😲 how do I have SO MANY SHRIMP BABIES???? lol 😍❤️♥️ BTW I finally was able to become a channel member ❤️
First of all, thank you and welcome to the Secret School! So detritus worms are harmless, first of all (fish loooove them and some people pay for then even.) But to get rid of them you have a few options.
First to cut back feeding... Shrimp can survive on biofilm and algae for a few months in a mature tank, the worms need protein. And baby shrimp eat microscopic particles of food and algae etc so adding a catapa leaf should give then grazing areas.
Secondly, look into buying flubendizol or fenbendizol aka dewormer. Then dose is very low...but if you Google "shrimp tank deworming dosage" or "how to treat shrimp tank planaria?" You'll find lots of solutions...start diluted and redose a bit more if it wasn't enough... you can always add more, but can't take it back.
Best wished, cheers !
@@Fishtory I just put a tiny bit of bacter ae in the tank after their water change (1/16 of the scoop) & an Indian almond leaf. Does that feed the worms? They’ll only eat on that stuff or mulberry leaves
@@LadyandtheScamp4Ever in theory worms eat leaves and biofilm also, but it's nowhere near as full of energy as fish food or dead fish/fish poop, so it should help.
I have known some people that used bacter AE weekly and for their tank, that was way too much (about 20 neocaridina shrimp in a fishless tank.)
Because also fish eat worms happily, and then move to other scraps if they're really hungry (like bacteria AE enriched leaves)...but i think that was a good call
@@Fishtory thank you! I heard too much bacter ae can be harmful & I wouldn’t have used any but there are hundreds of shrimplets in my tank! I only put the tiniest bit like enough to cover a finger tip lol then I put a tiny bit in my big tank for the Otto & snails & ghost shrimp (I also have 6 CPD’s in the bigger tank I heard they like micro organisms but I put the same amount in that tank as in my shrimp tank. My husband says put all the RCS babies in the fish tank 😭😭🦐🦐 I’m totally over run lol I didn’t expect so many so quickly
@@LadyandtheScamp4Ever well it's a good "problem" to have. If they're high grade, you can sell them to local fish stores for a dollar or two of store credit probably
Man, I stirred up so much debris trying to move these leopard danios to a bigger tank, my 10gallon is crashing
Dechlorinator and an air stone folllwed by a large water change sounds like it will be in your future. Good luck!
New subscriber here, what did you call the stuff that was at the bottom of the aquarium? The layer? Tried looking it up online but it was kind of hard.
Edit: I FOUND IT! It's called mulm lol! I knew I have heard it before
Mulm is key!
And I JUST DID A 50% My Ammonia is fine but my NiTRITES and Nitrates are through the roof......on day 18 for cycling my tank
Then you are probably almost ready. Those NITRITES should start going down and the nitrates will keep going up... by the way, a water change will help speed that up a bit...but I would guess your tank is 3/4ths cycled or more.
It's a good sign that the ammonia is gone, it means your good bacteria species (2 main types..1 for breaking ammonia into nitrites and one for nitrates into nitrAtes) have colonized their ammonia converting phase, and most- if not all, of your NITRITE converting bacteria is colonized and working on getting rid of the NITRITES. Once they finish and it's just NitrAtes....plants and or water changes can be used as much as possible to reduce them and keep the tank healthy.
Good luck! You're almost there!
Thanks man....Anytime Im working with my tanks which has been everyday.....I put one of your videos on.....your knowledge is vast!!
This tank I'm cycling is a organic dirt substrate and encased with sand which this was the first time I have tried this substrate. Been watching the air pockets and been poking the substrate a few times a week to get them out.....surprisingly I'm still getting good air pockets .....not sure if they are NEW or from when it was laid down a few weeks back......
I accidentally crashed my tank to the point of killing fish for the first time recently : (
Bummer. Sorry to hear that. It inevitably happens to all of us at some point