In every aquarium with fish and living plants, biological waste accumulates in the soil. These are leftover food, dead leaves and fish excrement. All this turns into silt over time. Of course, a certain amount of sludge must be in the soil, because it is the nutrient medium for aquarium plants. But too much sludge is bad for the aquarium and its inhabitants. Some fish dig into the ground in search of food, picking up dirt from the bottom, which settles on decorations and plants, which leads to the appearance of black beard or flip flops on plants. In addition, a large amount of organic matter in the water increases nitrites and ammonium, and the fish begin to itch and get sick.
To remove dirt from the aquarium, siphon the soil once a week while simultaneously changing the water. When siphoning, fish waste products, food residues and rotting plant leaves are removed from the soil, and nitrites are removed. And loosening the soil improves gas exchange at the roots of aquarium plants. How to properly siphon the soil so that your home pond remains clean?
Why is soil cleaning necessary?
Remains of food, fish excrement, particles of dead stems and leaves of plants fall to the bottom. Putrefactive processes spread throughout the reservoir. The substrate layer gradually cakes, turns into silt, and zones appear where oxygen does not flow. Beneficial bacteria that create a healthy biobalance of the reservoir are replaced by pathogenic ones.
When the level of organic waste reaches a dangerous level and begins to exceed the norm, it is necessary to clean the soil in the aquarium. This is very important for the life of fish. Accumulated toxins can simply poison them.
On a note! More often than usual, it is necessary to siphon the bottom of the aquarium without soil. Biological waste in it is not processed naturally, quickly accumulates and pollutes the tank.
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Specifications: Condition: 100% Brand New Material: Plastic Color: As shown in the picture Power Source: 2 x 1.5 VC batteries (not included) Drain Pipe Length: Approx. 67cm/26.38in Intake Pipe Length (3pcs): Approx. 18cm/7.09in, 20cm/7.87in, 40cm/15.75in Total length: min. 58cm/22.83in, 72cm/28.35in. 95cm/37.40in (adjustable) Normal water level: 30cm. Water level: 72 cm. : 520L/h Weight: approx. 373 g
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The benefits and harms of soil siphoning
The easiest way to clean dirt at the bottom of an aquarium is to use a siphon. The benefits are obvious:
- soil acidification is prevented;
- excess organic matter that pollutes water is removed;
- removes unpleasant odors that are toxins for fish (methane and hydrogen sulfide);
- In densely populated water bodies, biobalance is regulated.
If a siphon is performed without the necessary indications, it causes harm:
- colonies of beneficial microorganisms are disrupted, natural biofiltration deteriorates;
- nutrients necessary for plant development are removed from the soil;
- there is a risk of damage to the root system of the flora.
To clean the soil in an aquarium without negative consequences, you need to take into account environmental conditions, the number of aquatic inhabitants and the condition of the plants. In each specific case, a balanced decision is made about the need to clean the bottom with a siphon.
average cost
As of February 2022, the average price of equipment in online stores is:
GC-30 620 rub.
GC-40 890 rub.
GC-50 990 rub.
The manufacturer supplies spare parts for siphons, the customer can purchase a new hose or tube sections. The cost of Tetra components is comparable in price to new equipment; a number of customers note a long delivery time for parts.
Types of siphons
Manufacturers produce electric and mechanical siphons, which differ in a number of characteristics.
Electric siphon.
Mechanical siphon.
Before buying a device, you need to know for which aquarium it will be used; its size depends on this:
- standard, for regular and large tanks;
- reduced, for nano aquariums.
Battery-powered siphons are designed for cleaning reservoirs in which the water level does not exceed 0.5 m. Electric devices can be used to siphon soil in an aquarium in one of the following ways:
- suck up dirty liquid and send it to the sewer or into a special container;
- pass the water through the filter and return it back to the aquarium, already cleaned, so there is no need to change the water in large volumes.
The thicker the cross-section of the tube, the greater the pressure. There are differences in cleaning funnel configurations:
- rounded shape, with one right angle, for standard cleaning;
- with a tapered tube tip for hard-to-reach areas.
If a funnel with a tube is equipped with a strainer, the device will allow only the smallest waste to pass through and leave large fractions in place. To easily monitor the cleaning process, the hose must be transparent.
About Tetra
The manufacturer Tetra was registered in West Germany in 1951, the founder of the company was the natural scientist Ulrich Baensch. The first office of the company, called Tropenhaus, opened in Hannover, and a few years later a subsidiary company BioMin appeared, focused on laboratory research of products. A rebranding in 1962 led to a name change to Tetra Kraft Werke and a move to Melle.
The company produces everything needed to care for an aquarium.
At the time of reorganization, the company owned 15 patents for technological processes for the production of fish feed and about 20 trademarks. In the early 60s. The company begins to publish a magazine for aquarium fish lovers. The introduction of new production methods made it possible to expand capacity and increase the number of employees to 420 people. On the wave of development, the owners sell the brand to the American company Warner-Lambert. Since 1974, Tetra products have been supplied worldwide.
In the early 80s. Garden ponds became popular, and the company began producing special food for the inhabitants of open-air ponds.
In the 90s Branches were opened in the United States to supply American consumers.
A logistics center responsible for the supply of products is set up in Melle, and a separate Tetra aquarium is opened at the Osnabrück Zoo. Since the beginning of the 2000s. The brand is transferred to the American group Spectrum Brands; food for fish and reptiles, as well as equipment for aquariums and ponds, are produced under the Tetra brand.
How to siphon soil correctly
When biobalance has been established in the reservoir, regular soil siphoning is carried out in parallel with the planned water change:
- In large tanks, soil is cleaned using a siphon twice a month.
- With a high density of fish population in the reservoir, cleaning is done once every 7-10 days.
- The bottom of jigging tanks for fry without soil is siphoned daily.
- If the roots of the plants have turned brown and are rotting, it means that the soil needs to be cleaned more often.
The siphon consists of a plastic flask, a flexible hose and a rubber bulb for sucking water. If there is no pear, a bowl for draining the liquid is placed below the aquarium so that the water flows by gravity according to the law of physics. It is necessary to monitor the transparency of the intake water. When it becomes transparent, move to another area.
A few rules to follow when cleaning:
- The funnel is not deepened into the soil layer, but is slowly moved along the surface. Dirt and debris are drawn in on their own.
- You need to siphon especially carefully in corners, crevices, places under snags and decorative elements, near the front wall.
- There is no need to clean near the root system of plants. Organic matter is needed for growth. If you deprive plants of a nutrient medium, they will stop developing.
- During cleaning, do not drain water more than 30%.
You can perform the procedure yourself, but it is better with an assistant who will ensure that the water flows into the container. It is not necessary to add additional stones and sand after cleaning. They do this when there is a desire to change the bottom topography or improve the panorama of the aquarium using stones of a different color.
Types of mud cleaners
Remove excess organic matter using an aquarium siphon.
Plastic flask
Plastic flask with a hose for soil siphoning
The simplest device is a plastic flask (glass) with a soft hose attached to it.
Many people make this design on their own, using part of a plastic bottle, tape and a polypropylene hose. Water is pumped according to the principle of overflowing vessels. But to do this, she needs to help and draw air from the tube until the liquid begins to move. If you are afraid of swallowing water, you can first fill the siphon with tap water, then lower the flask into the aquarium with the hole facing up while holding the other end of the hose with your fingers. When this end is released into the drain container, water will flow out of the aquarium. To prevent soil granules from flying into the hose during operation, it is squeezed by hand and then they fall back to their original place.
Plastic funnel attachment
Another type of mud cleaner is a wide plastic funnel attachment, a hose and a hand pump (bulb) for pumping up water.
When not to siphon
There is no need to clean the aquarium with a siphon when it is completely planted, there are a lot of shrimp, small snails and fry. Plant roots penetrate the soil and act as a natural aerator, releasing oxygen. Therefore, souring does not occur. The situation is different when the plants have unbranched, weak roots, and the soil lies in a thick layer.
You should definitely not siphon the soil in the following cases:
- the aquarium was launched less than two weeks ago;
- the colony of nitrifying microorganisms has not yet grown;
- Only aquatic plants are grown in the tank, and the siphon actively washes out the nutrient substrate.
There is a sure way to check the condition of the soil with plants: move it with a stick. If bubbles appear and cloudiness rises, it’s time to siphon. This means that the decay products of aquatic life rise up and become a source of pathogenic bacteria.
Principle of operation
Over time, the designs of all plumbing fixtures change, and the same applies to the siphon. However, no matter what design it acquires, the principle of operation of the siphon remains unchanged. The simplest diagram can be represented as follows:
- water enters the flask through the sink drain;
- passes through several pipes;
- some water remains in the sump;
- the rest of the water enters the sewer, passing through the outlet pipe;
- The water that settles in the sump creates a blockage, resulting in an unpleasant odor remaining in the sewer.
Siphon disassembled
If the device is installed correctly, the principle of operation of the siphon is not affected. There is an exception in which the smell may spread throughout the room. Here we are talking about the long absence of the owners of the apartment, when the sinks and bathtub are not used for a long time. In this case, an odor may appear in the room, but it can be easily eliminated by running water.
It is worth saying that this product consists of several elements, which are connected to each other by cone-shaped gasket sleeves. It is these gaskets that play an important role in the safety and performance of the device.
It is very important that the sleeves have sufficient plasticity. Poor quality gaskets can lead to sudden failure of the device, which will require repair or replacement of the entire siphon
Alternative methods for cleaning soil
If necessary, you can clean the soil without a siphon. They do this as follows:
- The fish are transplanted into a separate container.
- The substrate is taken out of the aquarium into a bucket.
- Pour water into the bucket under pressure, stirring the soil periodically.
- Drain the cloudy water several times until it becomes clear.
- If the substrate is large, you can use a colander instead of a bucket. Soil washing will be faster and more efficient.
Do not use chemical cleaning agents. It is impossible to wash them without leaving a trace. If necessary, pebbles can be disinfected by boiling for 20 minutes. This way you can clean the bottom of the aquarium without draining the water.
Manufacturing materials
In the modern world, the production of such devices from several materials has been established, each of which has its own positive and negative sides.
Plastic siphons are becoming more popular today. This popularity is achieved due to the low cost of the products and their good performance characteristics. By the way, siphons made of plastic are very light, but they are endowed with high strength. It is important that such siphons can be cleaned with chemicals, since they are impervious to chemical influences. Another advantage is the ease of installation of such a product, regardless of the installation location
Among other things, plastic resists the formation of limescale, which is important; Siphons made of non-ferrous metals (bronze/copper). Every person has an idea of what a siphon is, so there is no point in talking about the negative aspects of copper and bronze here
It is clear that non-ferrous metals require considerable effort to keep them in a presentable form. However, if there is a specific design in the room, the overall stylistic decision may require the installation of just such siphons, because plastic or brass products can stand out from the general range and violate the style; Brass siphons are currently the most expensive. The chrome coating of this product allows it to harmonize perfectly with other interior elements made of brass and metal, for example, a dryer. Brass requires due respect, so its care must be careful, while its performance characteristics leave much to be desired. It is worth saying that siphons made of brass have increased fragility.
What to do to clean the soil less often
An aquarist does not always have time to clean his home pond. You won’t have to siphon the bottom often if you follow the following recommendations:
- Correctly calculate the number of fish for certain dimensions of a reservoir. If there is a lot of organic matter, the aquarium is probably overcrowded.
- Plant plants with a branched root system that need more nutrients. They will process fish waste products.
- Reduce the layer to 3 cm so that plant roots can penetrate deep without hindrance.
- Organize the feeding diet of aquatic inhabitants. Do not overfeed, make sure that the fish eat the food completely, as uneaten food greatly pollutes the environment.
- Introduce aquarium snails. They are not just beautiful. Many types of snails actively eat food debris, rotting plant stems and other debris, and clean the tank walls and decorative elements. Thus, they help reduce the level of toxins in the aquatic environment.
There is a rule: one-dimensional particles (no matter whether large or small) do not cake and are less susceptible to souring. You will be able to clean the bottom of the aquarium much less often if you follow most of these recommendations.
Important Details
Allows you to regulate the intensity of the water flow passing through the device. It is not very convenient to carry out a siphon without such a tap; you always have to pinch the drain with your finger or change its height.
Mesh in the fence.
Finding and installing such a mesh on a homemade device is not so easy, so many aquarists prefer a purchased option. The mesh in the intake part of the hose prevents pebbles in the ground from being drawn into the apparatus and protects small-caliber inhabitants of the tank from the same fate. They would hardly like a high-speed descent through the device’s hose followed by a swim in dirty water.
Siphon drain filter.
The water pumped out during soil cleaning can be reused, only, of course, it must first be separated from the removed dirt. If you use the simplest siphon design, there is only one way to do this: wait until the dirt settles at the bottom of the drain container. But if you bought a device whose drain is equipped with a filter (usually a small cloth bag), then you will immediately receive clean water suitable for reuse. The main thing to remember is: if the fish’s habitat has not been cleaned for a very long time, the pumped out water cannot be reused, even if a filter is installed on the drain of the device. Nitrites and ammonium salts contained in large quantities in the drained water will poison the tank environment and cause the death of all living organisms in it.
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