Decent Gravel Cleaner...?

[andiuk]

hello guys!

can some recommend a good gravel cleaner? the syphon that I was using doesn't seem to be doing a very good job, and it's a total !#%@!~ to use and the gravel is starting to turn from it's nice ivory colour to a browny colour 'coz of the algee and debris etc etc!

any suggestions very welcome!

andy

 

[Terry]

Hi. I'm not sure if anyone will agree with me, but I've always considered that yukky brownish coating that gets on the gravel is a good sign. I usually have it start showing up about the time a tank has finished cycling, or shortly after. To me it's an indication that the bacteria we want in the tanks has finally gained a foothold on colonizing the gravel. Gravel cleaning won't remove it, and in my case I don't want to remove it all. I just use a siphon to get the loose stuff out.

Thoughts from anyone else?

 

[Goldfishcare]

Hi. I'm not sure if anyone will agree with me, but I've always considered that yukky brownish coating that gets on the gravel is a good sign. I usually have it start showing up about the time a tank has finished cycling, or shortly after. To me it's an indication that the bacteria we want in the tanks has finally gained a foothold on colonizing the gravel. Gravel cleaning won't remove it, and in my case I don't want to remove it all. I just use a siphon to get the loose stuff out.

Thoughts from anyone else?

Is your tank near sun light that might be it.

 

[Terry]

Hi. I'm not sure if anyone will agree with me, but I've always considered that yukky brownish coating that gets on the gravel is a good sign. I usually have it start showing up about the time a tank has finished cycling, or shortly after. To me it's an indication that the bacteria we want in the tanks has finally gained a foothold on colonizing the gravel. Gravel cleaning won't remove it, and in my case I don't want to remove it all. I just use a siphon to get the loose stuff out.

Thoughts from anyone else?

Is your tank near sun light that might be it.

HI - are you asking andiuk or me? I have no algae problem myself, and my tank isn't close to a window. I like to see a little "gunk" coating on my gravel.

 

[Goldfishcare]

Hi. I'm not sure if anyone will agree with me, but I've always considered that yukky brownish coating that gets on the gravel is a good sign. I usually have it start showing up about the time a tank has finished cycling, or shortly after. To me it's an indication that the bacteria we want in the tanks has finally gained a foothold on colonizing the gravel. Gravel cleaning won't remove it, and in my case I don't want to remove it all. I just use a siphon to get the loose stuff out.

Thoughts from anyone else?

Is your tank near sun light that might be it.

HI - are you asking andiuk or me? I have no algae problem myself, and my tank isn't close to a window. I like to see a little "gunk" coating on my gravel. 

I'm asking you.That greeny staff is something I don't know about.

 

[Luniyn]

seems to be a favorite of a lot of people here. I just use one that I got from my local pet store that has a squeeze ball in the middle of the tube. You just squeeze it a few times and the water starts flowing. Then I just poke it around my rocks a bit and up comes the debris. I haven't seen a picture of it online though.

 

[Terry]

I just use a cheapo siphon - the type with the big end that you move back & forth in the tank to get it started siphoning. I always wash & rinse my hands first to avoid introducing anything that may be on my hands into the tank.

 

[Gargoyle]

Hi. I'm not sure if anyone will agree with me, but I've always considered that yukky brownish coating that gets on the gravel is a good sign. I usually have it start showing up about the time a tank has finished cycling, or shortly after. To me it's an indication that the bacteria we want in the tanks has finally gained a foothold on colonizing the gravel. Gravel cleaning won't remove it, and in my case I don't want to remove it all. I just use a siphon to get the loose stuff out.

Thoughts from anyone else?

100% Agree with the above.. ;D Just let it roll.. The brown stuff will go away and if your lucky after adding a few live plants you may start the see some beautiful growth from your plants since the nutrients are clearly there for them.. ;D

 

[atmmachine816]

The brown algae is probably diatoms a common form of algae that occurs in new tanks, nothing to worry about and goes away in a little bit.

 

[andiuk]

thanks so much guys... it's okay, found myself a 3 in 1 cleaner/syphon thingy, so i'm going to use that - I tried using one of those thingies that you move up & down, but it didn't appear to be cleaning anything, and it was driving me to a murderuous rage!

well, to clarify: yes, my tank is about 5ft from a window, however, it's south-facing, and to be honest, more light is generated by the tank bulb than the window!

okay, well, I'll take it as a good sign anyways... my little cory's seem to like whatever it is to eat anyways! they're natures vacuum cleaners! lol

 

[lyndatu]

Some fish can be good, too! I recommend some ottos. Buy 2-3 of them and they will become your algae cleaning crew! Or, maybe some Gold Inca Snails can do the trick!

Oh and I quite agree that some algae can be good for bacteria. Some fish may sometimes eat it, too!

Good luck!