too much poop

jackedarby · Post by **jackedarby** » 18 May 2004, 16:36

I have recently bought a 14" common plec to put in my 5' tank. The problem is I have got sand/gravel substrate and the syphoner I have will not suction his huge amounts of poo up. It will take the sand no problem which I don't want. Is there anything else I can use that is powerful enough to do the job. Thanks

westwood8183 · Post by **westwood8183** » 18 May 2004, 20:36

If you have a python I find it works much better if you take off the large extension tube and use just the slim tubing for siphoning off waste. You get much better suction.

patrickstockton · Post by **patrickstockton** » 19 May 2004, 20:08

I have a fairly overstocked 30 gal. and to keep L# waste to a minimum I employ a large sponge in the back, bottom corner attacheed to a 802 powerhead (400gal/hr). It pulls all the waste along the bottom to the sponge where it breaks down and becomes yummy bacteria. I rinse my sponge well in the same temp water once a month or so.
I feed my royal and others cucmuber and potato, as this seems to make alot of waste. not to mention the clown who eats wood all dday and might make the most waste in the tank. The long "ropes" of excrement are taken care of tout suite.

dag · Post by **dag** » 20 May 2004, 22:23

I find my sailfin at about 7 inches creates a stunning amount of poo too and can hardly imagine how bad it will be when he is the size of yours . Anyhoos quite by accident I discovered that fake plants can be helpful . I decided to put a couple of plants at the top of the tank just to diffuse some light so the fish have a shady area to go to in the day . I was surprized to turn on the light the next morning and find a veritable poop jackpot in the plant . Every morning its the same and I take my net and whak it against it and the poo goes right in . This guys poo is heavy and doesn't get sucked up with the siphon either and I was at the point of stirring the tank every day just to get it to fly around enough to net . That tank only needs weekly water changes and the marring of it by a daily mother load of crap was getting me down . I don't know how it all ends up in the net but now I have no problem .
Dag