Sediment

Xpilot · 03/14/2011, 12:20 PM

I recently bought a used 150gal tank and moved it. It had been established for about 4 years before I messed it all up and there was a lot of sediment. Now that things have settled for a few weeks the sediment is covering the top side of the rocks. I try sucking it off when I am doing water changes but that only goes so far so what to do? I was thinking of using a brush and stirring it up a little and suck it out during a big water change. Is there some kind of animal that would like to eat it? Thanks for the help.

crazy4salt · 03/14/2011, 12:41 PM

IME nothing will eat it. Use a powerhead to blow it off the rocks and suck it up during your water change.

JustinM · 03/14/2011, 12:53 PM

Yep, use a powerhead or a turkey baster and blow it off and either a) suck it up during a water change or b) blow it into your overflow and into a filter sock if you are sumped

Xpilot · 03/14/2011, 12:58 PM

So no soft brushing, only blowing?

JustinM · 03/14/2011, 01:02 PM

I believe it would be much easier to blow it off and then suck it out. My wife helps with my water changes. As I am sucking out the water she is blowing off the rocks with a turkey baster. If you could find a second pair of hands that could help, you could be cleaned up in no time. Good luck.

Xpilot · 03/15/2011, 10:12 AM

So what I ended up doing was to drain about 25 gallons of water off the top into a garbage can, just to reduce the volume of water I was about to make a mess of. I then got out the turkey baster (must buy new turkey baster before November) and started blowing while siphoning. I took about 35 gallons of dirty water and dumped it, then put in the fresh 40 gallons I had for the water change. Then I topped it off with the water I first drained. The rocks look a lot better and it only took about an hour for the rest to settle down. Now my goby will just have to put in a little OT on the sand. Thanks for the help everyone.

03/14/2011, 12:20 PM	#1
Xpilot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Port St. Lucie, FL Posts: 110	Sediment I recently bought a used 150gal tank and moved it. It had been established for about 4 years before I messed it all up and there was a lot of sediment. Now that things have settled for a few weeks the sediment is covering the top side of the rocks. I try sucking it off when I am doing water changes but that only goes so far so what to do? I was thinking of using a brush and stirring it up a little and suck it out during a big water change. Is there some kind of animal that would like to eat it? Thanks for the help.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Blown, Pleated, or String Sediment Filters?	PsychoKnight	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	1	02/05/2006 10:05 AM
RO sediment and carbon filter life.	Herbert T. Kornfeld	Premium Aquatics	3	11/07/2005 01:45 PM

03/14/2011, 12:41 PM	#2
crazy4salt Topsy Turvy Child Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: PA Posts: 266	IME nothing will eat it. Use a powerhead to blow it off the rocks and suck it up during your water change.

03/14/2011, 12:53 PM	#3
JustinM Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,215	Yep, use a powerhead or a turkey baster and blow it off and either a) suck it up during a water change or b) blow it into your overflow and into a filter sock if you are sumped

03/14/2011, 12:58 PM	#4
Xpilot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Port St. Lucie, FL Posts: 110	So no soft brushing, only blowing?

03/14/2011, 01:02 PM	#5
JustinM Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,215	I believe it would be much easier to blow it off and then suck it out. My wife helps with my water changes. As I am sucking out the water she is blowing off the rocks with a turkey baster. If you could find a second pair of hands that could help, you could be cleaned up in no time. Good luck.

03/15/2011, 10:12 AM	#6
Xpilot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Port St. Lucie, FL Posts: 110	So what I ended up doing was to drain about 25 gallons of water off the top into a garbage can, just to reduce the volume of water I was about to make a mess of. I then got out the turkey baster (must buy new turkey baster before November) and started blowing while siphoning. I took about 35 gallons of dirty water and dumped it, then put in the fresh 40 gallons I had for the water change. Then I topped it off with the water I first drained. The rocks look a lot better and it only took about an hour for the rest to settle down. Now my goby will just have to put in a little OT on the sand. Thanks for the help everyone.