jimboNZ Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Ive got a question for experienced keepers with large tanks. I recently got my 260L tank and am coming up to doing my first water change/clean. Is cleaning a larger tank any different to a smaller tank? as in siphoning the gravel etc...? I think I need to get a longer siphon......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 No. Exactly the same process. Maybe only 15% more effort or time involved. I have lots of plants and loaches so I don't bother with gravel vac'ing. I spend more time cleaning the inside of the glass is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 i use a wetsuit and snorkel same principle as cleaning small tank, just takes longer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimboNZ Posted June 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 No. Exactly the same process. Maybe only 15% more effort or time involved. I have lots of plants and loaches so I don't bother with gravel vac'ing. I spend more time cleaning the inside of the glass is all. I have some corys in there and a reasonable amount of plants, should I be getting that little bit more wet in order to gravel vac? or could I leave it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I personally prefer to give the gravel a good vac every other week, I find it helps keep the water clearer. Every A surface vac usually does the trick for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I guess it would depend on how stocked the tank is and how much you feed your fish. I definitely recognize the importance of a Grav Vac. Mine is a fine sand base and I have 10 Horsefaced loaches which sift through the top inch of sand so nothing settles and builds up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimboNZ Posted June 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Got a new big siphon today and did my water change, not as bad as I thought it would be, took me about 1/2 an hour in total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Wait until you have an actual big tank, not a little 260L one. My 440 (Which I'd consider to be on the very bottom of the scale of large, maybe even top of medium size) takes about 45 minutes and that's just draining and refilling it from the tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimboNZ Posted June 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Wait until you have an actual big tank, not a little 260L one. My 440 (Which I'd consider to be on the very bottom of the scale of large, maybe even top of medium size) takes about 45 minutes and that's just draining and refilling it from the tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heir Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Or you can run a hose outside and syphon it str8 on to the lawn and then plug the hose in and turn it on. my 400L takes me 15 minutes, and thats thorough. Takes longer when snails keep getting stuck in the syphon hose. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Glad to hear it didn't take so long. I only can dream of having a tank that size Post pics sometime! livingart wrote: same principle as cleaning small tank, just takes longer Ah, takes you longer because of the extra time to put on your wet suit and snorkel :lol: :lol: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 :lol: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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