How do you deal with solid fish waste on the bottom of your tank? I keep my tank in my office, no where near a sink. This tank is not easy to clean.
1303304
I bought a turkey baster... the cheapest one I could find. I suck up the bottom and squirt it out into the grow tray. Keeps nutrients in the system, but out of sight. This also means no net water loss, so you won't need to refill when cleaning
1303305
I just take the hood off and vacuumed out the waste. I personally do it twice a week. You could buy a gravel vac and small container. Like old soda bottles.
1303306
I bought a tank snail. Occasionally I still have to take the hood off and fix it, but it's a hassle and I try to avoid that.
1303307
The tidy tank sludge stuff should take care of most of it. http://smile.amazon.com/B00FQMGR1S
1303308
I haven't set this one up yet but I use suction vacuums for my other three (normal) tanks (20, 30, & 55 galln) and they are also not near a sink. I suction bottom waste (along with a water change amount of water) into a bucket - transport and refill. Looking forward to setting up the hydroponics tank.
1303309
The pump, in mine at least, seems to suck up most of it, while the snail does the rest. If you use the Tidy Tank once a month, it dissolves it and it just feeds the plants.
25478
All debris is contained beneath the filter and in the gravel. A gravel vac will clean the bottom but under the filter is a different story. You can push a narrow hose thru the uptake fitting to vacuum out some of the debris. A lot will remain inaccessible because the plastic is pushed down providing "support" legs. It's the area between the legs that is near impossible to access. The only way to completely clean is to empty the aquarium. I have the filter you have inquired about. It's a good product however I have a concern about the build up as I have observed gas bubbles rising from the gravel. I now just run my Fluval C3 HOB filter and it does a fine job. This is my aquarium set up and in no way reflects on the efficiency of under gravel filters as a whole. In my case when I tear down in the future for cleaning I won't replace it. My Fluval C3 is a bit more than I need for a 29 gal. but will be perfect for the 40 gal. I will be purchasing from Petcos' dollar a gallon sale. Hope this helps.
697765
Well in a planted aquarium you really don't vacuum where the plants are at. Only in the open areas, you can vacuum it but I wouldn't recommend it. Just go over the top and pick up any debris that way.
729778
I think it would depend on the dimensions of the tank. A good portion of the filter should be submerged. However, they do make a bottom filtration system, but they require more cleaning than these filters. I would still contact a pet store and ask someone what the best filter is for your environment.
1931247
I watched my female betta jump up the waterfall part, swim around in the filter, then surf back out. (It turned out she was being bullied by other fish in the tank.) Maybe put a screen under/in front of the outflow? Or put a piece of sponge or nylon over the intake?
820210
This message shows up when the tank is not properly seated or you are out of cleaning solution. To remove the tank, press down on the silver handle just below the "power" and "clean" buttons and the tank will lift off the base. Empty the compartment labled "dirty" and refill the tank labled "clean" with fresh cleaning solution. Reinsert tank and press down until it clicks shut. I hope this helps. John
1319185
My tank is plastic also. I have mine on the bottom covered in glass marbles. It hasn't done anything to my tank at all.
416227
Leave it attached to the tank so that it's readily available to use if you need it. You can store it out of the way until you need it again. Maybe in a top corner of the tank.
605462
I'm wondering if you are over feeding your fish? This tank is only big enough for 1 fish, preferably a beta. Make sure you rinse a new filter under water before installing, also, change the water 1 time a week. Use bottled spring water instead of tap. Then add a beta conditioner to the water. Only feed 7-10 pellets up to twice a day, Good luck!
338675
Had mine for about a year, still performing great. GREAT 6gal aquarium. I've noticed over the past year that when water is low or needed....it is loads in the rest filter and pump area than in the front. I will always add water to the rest chambers.
2064421
Mine does this too! It's contaminating my fish tank. I also get carbon dust, even though I've rinsed, and re-rinsed the filters. The carbon dust accumulates on the leaves of my plants.
1107201
That tank looked way too tiny. I have mine in a 3 gallon tank with an undergravel filter using an airstone for flow. Has worked since I got them, rarely needs cleaning ever. I have 12 in that little tank though. It is circular and they really seem to love the shape as they continuously swim around and around. They didn't do that in the 3 gallon fish aquarium with a filter? Good to see them active. Regular filters could all damage the shrimp so undergravel is much safer for them.
278428
In addition to regularly cleaning the tank with a water-vinegar solution, I've found the best way to reach the tight spots when there's mold or some sort of buildup is to pour in around a quarter cup of rice (a heavier grain like sushi rice) and then some water, then shake the tank like crazy. I spent hours trying to reach around the inside of my penguin tank with tools from a child's toothbrush to q-tips. After my last use, I didn't properly empty the tank, so I had a good film of mold on the bottom of the tank. With this rice and water combo, I was able to essentially scrub out the mold. As far as I can tell, it's all gone. Just make sure to get all of the rice out by rinsing, and to be sure I killed all of the bacteria, I rinsed the tank with hydrogen peroxide.
1959301
I actually got a betta heater that suctions to the side of this tank without an issue. I love this tank. I would, however, invest in a different "filter" as it doesn't come with a filter but an air stone. I found a small tank filter at my local pet store. The LED light is amazing, several colors and a couple effects on it. All in all my Betta and I love this tank :)
25479
The debris collect in the gravel and natural bacteria break most of the waste down in to non harmful material. This allows time span between full tank cleanings to be greatly extended. ofcourse, all hinges on how many fish and how much excessive food in tank. Works great in my 29 gal tank.
1158524
Hi There. How many gallons is your tank and approximately how many fish do you have? Without me knowing this, I would guesstimate at once every two weeks. You could probably go longer than that but a good rule is to clean it regularly. Of course if you have a large amount of dirt or debris in your tank because of the type of fish you keep, cleaning it weekly would be a better idea. Hope this helps you out.
519515
In addition to what Jason said, filters bubble and fish jump, even the little ones. So to keep from "decorating" the outside of your tank with watermarks and dead fish, put a lid on it:)