How to vacuum and not make a mess

I see so many absolutely beautifully organized, planted tanks online and can not figure out how they vacuum or clean them. I vacuum my community tank for water changes and every time, I mess everything up. Example: I wanted a nice solid color path through my natural gravel bottom. Now the black gravel is scattered everywhere. And every time I vacuum I have to replant all the small plants that begin floating to surface.

Would somebody give me some tips on keeping my aquarium clean & neat?

Thank you,
Regis

 

Don't dip your vacuum into the substrate. Hover it just above the substrate and use the vacuum to agitate the water just above the substrate, then suck up the goop as it's floating around in the water.

 

I don't use a vacuum for my aquariums

I use a Fluval 3 in 1 remover.....basically it is a 17 inch long, 1 inch diameter giant turkey baster that I spot suck waste and mess up with. I also use Exo-Terra 12 inch bamboo tweezers for the things that will not suck into the baster

It takes a bit longer but I like it since you can concentrate them on specific areas without mess and with the giant baster you can check out things for parasites or other issues such as suspicious poo etc very easily just by looking into the baster

Very useful piece of kit especially around plants, ornaments, rocks etc

 

I don't use a vacuum for my aquariums

I use a Fluval 3 in 1 remover.....basically it is a 17 inch long, 1 inch diameter giant turkey baster that I spot suck waste and mess up with. I also use Exo-Terra 12 inch bamboo tweezers for the things that will not suck into the baster

It takes a bit longer but I like it since you can concentrate them on specific areas without mess and with the giant baster you can check out things for parasites or other issues such as suspicious poo etc very easily just by looking into the baster

Very useful piece of kit especially around plants, ornaments, rocks etc

Wait so do you change the water using this? Do you change the water weekly or less often? Just asking bc it would probably take a while so if you do it weekly I would love to know how long it takes etc etc bc I change water weekly and I love the look of this tool! I have a python and could possibly empty the water with that but not vacuum just let it suck up water and then vacuum using the tool you use. However just wondering what you do bc it sounds like a great idea just asking if it might take me hours every week!

 

I RARELY vacuum my tanks. ONLY if there's a ton of debris (usually pieces of leaf litter) and I just skI'm the vacuum above the substrate, maybe an inch or so away from it.

If you're not overfeeding and you have proper filtration, you shouldnt be having a ton of debris to vacuum up. If you have a heavily planted tank (like a lot of mine), then you WANT the poop to settle into the substrate to feed the plants.

But the key is to NOT jam the vacuum in the substrate. Just hover above it until you're close enough to pick up whatever you need to.

 

In planted tanks, it's better if you don't vacuum at all. The crud that settles in the gravel is all-natural plant food, and if you don't stir it up, the tank stays nice and clean-looking. Just replace the water.

 

Wait so do you change the water using this? Do you change the water weekly or less often? Just asking bc it would probably take a while so if you do it weekly I would love to know how long it takes etc etc bc I change water weekly and I love the look of this tool! I have a python and could possibly empty the water with that but not vacuum just let it suck up water and then vacuum using the tool you use. However just wondering what you do bc it sounds like a great idea just asking if it might take me hours every week!

I remove water with a tub, empty it into a larger tub then carry to the bathroom for disposal.....then I do my spot pick up/removals....then I refill the aquariums using bottled water cos I never use tap water for my fish & Axolotl

I don't use vacuum etc....I like to check what is in the sand and gravel and I prefer to manually take water out so I can check of floaties etc and refil with 5 litre bottled water.......do it every 7 days, or less if needed. Four aquariums takes around 2 hours.

 

I appreciate all the answers. I'll "hover" above and I have a turkey baster and long tweezers for anything large enough. I got in trouble with 48 hour power outage (after close tornado) and have been dealing with too much algae.

Thanks again,
Regis

 

As long as you disturb the sand/substrate, it's gonna make a mess and move your sand/substrate from where you want it to where you don't want it.

You may want to consider a battery operated vac. I had the Eheim Quick Vac Pro for a while, but after dropping it on the floor and having it break in several strategic locations, it was useless. It's also almost double in price since I bought mine less than a year ago! I paid $27 and change. I wouldn't recommend that one, but others look like they would work for less $$$. I only have Java Fern and Anubias so I can move their decorations they're glued to, to make cleaning easier. I went to a regular siphon vac, but the battery vac may give you a bit more precision when it comes to spot vacuuming.

 

I remove water with a tub, empty it into a larger tub then carry to the bathroom for disposal.....then I do my spot pick up/removals....then I refill the aquariums using bottled water cos I never use tap water for my fish & Axolotl

I don't use vacuum etc....I like to check what is in the sand and gravel and I prefer to manually take water out so I can check of floaties etc and refil with 5 litre bottled water.......do it every 7 days, or less if needed. Four aquariums takes around 2 hours.

How many gallons each? And thank you!

 

How many gallons each? And thank you!

3 x 20 gallon long + 1 x 17 gallon hex/tall

 

I see so many absolutely beautifully organized, planted tanks online and can not figure out how they vacuum or clean them. I vacuum my community tank for water changes and every time, I mess everything up. Example: I wanted a nice solid color path through my natural gravel bottom. Now the black gravel is scattered everywhere. And every time I vacuum I have to replant all the small plants that begin floating to surface.

Would somebody give me some tips on keeping my aquarium clean & neat?

Thank you,
Regis

I have the exactly same problem haha. Every time is a war. Because I thought I should vacuum the gravel deep. But I like the idea of agitating the water and the vacuuming it.

 

Hmmmm...I am quite new to the aquarium, and have been sticking my Python like suction right down into the gravel. I thought I had to release gases down there. Maybe this is why I lose the odd fish after a Wc

 

Hmmmm...I am quite new to the aquarium, and have been sticking my Python like suction right down into the gravel. I thought I had to release gases down there. Maybe this is why I lose the odd fish after a Wc

Maybe we should do a deep clean once in a while. But my Molly and Platy poo a lot. But I will try to remove this on my weekly WC hoovering right above the gravel.

 

I just touch it to the gravel around the plants. I dig it in in the open areas. My pleco poos or shreds wood or something like a mad woman....lol I turn my filter off when feeding so not a ton goes to the bottom.

 

All my tanks r heavily planted so When i do my WC's i find an open spot for my gravel vac and put it close to the bottom then i take a turkey baster and use it to congregate everything towards my siphon. Works like a charm!