I have a Wayne self priming transfer pump. I've emptied a 55 gallon tank and have removed the substrate. However there is a very fine layer of silt and sand remaining on the bottom and I'm wondering if transferring it out will ruin the pump? I can swish it around by adding water, draining and repeating as needed.
I've removed all that I can by hand. I'll have to ask hubby to help carry the tank outdoors if it has to be rinsed clean with the hose. Of course, being winter the hose is drained and put away and I dread dragging all of this outside. But..... gotta do whatcha gotta do.
As long as you're adding more water, and not picking stones or anything hard...it'll work fine. You can clean it that way too...flush well and pump out the gook, then repeat....no need to take it outside, if you're careful with the initial chunky debris...fill it, let it sit and settle out, then tidy up the bottom....yada yada...
That is when I use one of these:
DuraHeat Plastic Siphon Pump - 2.98 each
(http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/fc/fc9b797c-40cd-4a63-a525-26b1d539139e_300.jpg)
Link: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100372238/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=syphen&storeId=10051#.UPHAzW-_F8E (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100372238/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=syphen&storeId=10051#.UPHAzW-_F8E)
We also use them to clean out breeders daily to do that 10% water change. I add a extra piece of hose to the end and run it to a bucket then use the transfer bump out the the yard.
Sand and silt are easy on a pump. Just add more water and suck it out. Like Mug said, it's the big hard stuff that hurts a pump.
Okay....thanks everyone. Back to work I go.
Liz....I'm cleaning up this tank to have it ready for discus. ;D
I figured as much. You have no idea how much I am looking forward to this.
Cool. It will be fun to share to joy.
The pump efficiently cleaned out the tank. What a treat compared to the amount of work I used to put into totally emptying a tank. I even found a foot operated on/off switch to plug the pump into that kept my hands free. Eeeeezzzzzeeeeee. ;)
So now the tank is refilled with about 1/3 old water, 2/3 fresh water, a potted sword plant and a good sized hunk of driftwood that's home to a clown pleco. The original HOB filter is running in the tank for now. Next will be adding the "Hamburg Mittenfilter" when it arrives.
Nice...did you order the corner type, or the end barrier type??
I ordered the end barrier type. Actually the kit that includes the lift tube.
Great....let us know how it works for you. Pics too, of the setup, after reading about Dennis using them ,I'm interested in perhaps trying one...??
Will do.
I use a wet dry vac on the remains. Works fast and safe on the pumps.
Quote from: PaulineMi on January 12, 2013, 08:26:32 PM
I ordered the end barrier type. Actually the kit that includes the lift tube.
Who did you order from? Swiss?
It's safest to start a brand new Discus tank with a sterilized tank, filter, and 100% new water. This is to prevent cross contamination in case your fish are immune to something that the new Discus have never been exposed to so are suceptable to. It doesn't happen often, usually when there is cross contamination it's the other way around. The new fish carry something that the exsisting fish have never been exposed to, but it does happen.
As far as plants, we usually give them a quick dunk in a mild pp solution and replant them in fresh substrate
So when its time for the discus to go in the tank I should have it set up with the brand new filter, remove the driftwood, sterilize the tank, plant and heater and add fresh water the day before their arrival?
It will be the big daily water changes that will prevent the ammonia and nitrites from building up. So as the discus grow and get older does the amount of water being changed daily get somewhat reduced? Or would big water changes get done a few times per week eventually leading to perhaps 50% a few times or twice per week? That's how I do my angel tanks.
This is so counter intuitive. Another learning curve is coming on. I'm glad that the tank they'll get is the one that's closest to the hose and drain and that I have the water pump!
Thanks Frank. I thought of the wet dry vac as an option. I'll keep it in mind.
It's a judgement call. I admit to using cycled filters, but I buy new fish rarely and know who I'm buying from. I still recognize the fact that I'm taking a risk.
With these being your fisrt Discus it would be wise to go by the book. Some people cycle the filters by adding a small amount of ammonia every day until the filter is cycled. I understand it takes about 3 weeks. I always just did huge daily WCs until the filters caught up. I can do that because my water is cheap.
I would go BB for the first week or two, then introduce a sacraficial lamb. If you see no problems in the fish for another week or two then you'll know it's safe to add your plant and other fish to the Discus tank.
If you buy juvies daily WC is importent becuase to get proper growth and shape you need to feed a lot. You don't want old poop and left over food breaking down ruining your water quality. If you buy adults or sub adults (more expensive) the hard work has already been done for you. Depending on the stocking level 50% two or three times weekly should be enough.
Forgive my ignorance, I only know Discus, but is a Clown Pleco the same as a Clown Loach?
Raising young discus sounds a lot like what I did when I raised my angel spawn from eggs to quarter sized little fish. I think I've got it now.
It won't be a problem regarding adding additional fish because this will be a discus only tank.
A clown pleco is a different species of plecostomus, not a loach. It's kind of like a bristlenose pleco only it's useless. Hides all the time, doesn't eat algae, has to have wood to eat and poops a lot. I've had the dufus for about 8 years...
Sounds like the Clown Pleco will be fine. Many plecos will attach to the Discus' sides and feed off the slime coat. They say Clown loaches aren't good, becuase they grow big, are very active at night, and disturb the Discus' sleep (no kidding. that's what they say)
Raising baby Discus is the same as raising baby Angels but with less margin for error. Angels are tough little buggers. It is suggested that people new to Discus start with sub adults. It was what I did. But you ain't no fish newbie. If you're up to the challenge of raising up youngun's, go for it. There's a lot of satisfaction in raising a group to adulthood.