Auratus Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 Hello everyone, I've been wondering for a while- is vacuuming the substrate helpful in keeping nitrates low and shrimps healthy? My shrimps in planted tanks poop a lot and I always try to clean it up weekly, but I wonder if it is normal practice in the hobby with so many types of substrates used. It probably is practical in some but not in others. Comments are much appreciated! Auratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddd_sss Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 I made my own micro substrate vacuum using a 2 gallon milk jug and some airline tubing, Then I use tweezers to guide the airline tubing and just stick it in different parts of the substrate so i don't suck up babies, and I always see a bunch of brown "muck" get sucked out. I like to believe that I've removing some nasties the shrimps don't want in there. Undershrimp and Bella 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplepanda Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 the gunk and stagnant pockets. Shrimp go crazy for the turned over substrate their bimonthly highlight and seems to work a dream. I always leave the white bucket with the waste to settle and using a headlamp on the floor shining through the side remove any shrimplets.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolaus777 Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 I always vacuum then check for shrimplets in the waste water. Helps to lower my TDS in old tanks. huntingtrees 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotKelly Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 i used to vaccuum but then i realized i was probably sucking up babies... now I just use airline tubing and rubber band a chopstick to it to mess up the gravel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auratus Posted May 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2017 I do the same- airline tubing tied onto a chopstick with a rubber band. Still have to check for the occasional babies in amongst the muck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDT360 Posted May 13, 2017 Report Share Posted May 13, 2017 I've been using a reef feeder (like a turkey baster) to suck out junk.What to you use to create the vacuum on the airline tube? Sounds like a good method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bella Posted May 13, 2017 Report Share Posted May 13, 2017 I made my own micro substrate vacuum using a 2 gallon milk jug and some airline tubing, Then I use tweezers to guide the airline tubing and just stick it in different parts of the substrate so i don't suck up babies, and I always see a bunch of brown "muck" get sucked out. I like to believe that I've removing some nasties the shrimps don't want in there.Would you post a video on that?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddd_sss Posted May 13, 2017 Report Share Posted May 13, 2017 19 minutes ago, Bella said: Would you post a video on that? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Hi Bella, I'm doing my water changes on Monday, I'll try my best do demonstrate how I do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddd_sss Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 On 5/13/2017 at 0:35 PM, Bella said: Would you post a video on that? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Hi Bella, No video but I do have photos. Here is the DIY Vacuum, not pretty but works great! 1. I hold the soft airline tubing with tweezers to guide them around the tank. 2. I use my other hand to pinch a bend in the airline tubing so I can stop the flow whenever I want. 3. I basically spot clean my substrate by stopping/starting the flow after inserting the tubing into the substrate about 0.5 inches - 0.75 inches deep and starting the flow sucking out all the "muck" and detritus. I purposely used clear tubing at the end so i could see all the "muck" being sucked out, and simply move onto another spot once the water is coming out clear. As you can see I am vacuuming right next to a baby but it is undisturbed because I slowly put the airline tubing into the substrate and started the flow again after the tube was not going to suck up the babies! Hope this helps! EricM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 cool idea. maybe get the hard air line and like could be even easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddd_sss Posted May 15, 2017 Report Share Posted May 15, 2017 24 minutes ago, bostoneric said: cool idea. maybe get the hard air line and like could be even easier. Lol, yeah I used what I had, and i kind of like having the hardline in there so I can adjust the length of the tube when i use it to vacuum my other tanks which are on much lower racks.. EricM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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