Habitat - Indoor :: Cleaning the Tank

[WeirdMeta]

Can someone throw me some of their ideas on how you clean your tank. I basically siphon the water out of my tank. It's not fun but it works for me. The only thing I have a hard time cleaning is the debris poop, food, shedded skin, etc... . Just wanted to see if anyone could help me out here on this.

[Muirner]

You could use the Python, or another alternative is a aquarium cleaner vacuum which you put into a bucket and you can use that to suck some of the crap out... but i also wonder, what's the best way because not all of it comes up this way...

[missibsu]

Until my birthday rolls around, I've been using the siphon and bucket method. I use a siphon that is meant for the 5 gallon kerosene jugs. It has a rather thick tube, so it sucks up the larger stuff too. It's worked well for me, but lugging the buckets is getting old.

If I had my way, it's still be the python. I've never used one, but I've heard nothing but great things about them!

[mischief]

i feed my 2 turtles in a seperate container to eliminate food debris and waste

[marisa]

Welcome, mischief. What you're going is really good, but at some point that water is going to need to be changed and the tank cleaned...I don't really think the bucket method, for a smaller tank, is that bad (but still a pain compared to syphoning it out).

When I get all the water out, I use white vinegar and water to wipe down the inside of the tank, then rinse well.

Some people have used garden hoses to syphon the water out of their tanks.

[BullDog]

Up until I got my bigger tank, I "bucketed it."
I changed the water for the first time a few weeks ago. I used a garden hose, stuck it out the window and into the garden, and it created some massive suction! (I'm on the 2nd floor) To drain 75 gal it only took about 5-7 mins! I just moved the hose around to pick up the debries on the bottom.
There was about 1/2 cm of water left in the bottom, which I just sopped up with a rag and bucket. I ended up just scrubbing the tank with nothing but fresh water, as it was pretty clean.
Then to fill it up, I've got a hose connection for the bathroom faucet, got the right ratio of hot to cold so the temp is about 75, and let 'er fill up!

[Muirner]

I thought you werent supposed to do complete water changes? Please correct me if i'm wrong? In my 55 gallon tank my XP3 creates enough current to keep everything (leaves, part of my anachris plant, poop, ect) on one end. I use a tank cleaner like pithon but it goes into a bucket. Just suck up the big stuff, let the filter do some of the finer cleaning, and off i go...

[WeirdMeta]

I saw the Python at wal-mart for 32 which is qutie exspensive for just a long plastic tube. Especially when you can just use a water hose which I may use next time. Last night I used a gravel vaccum to siphon out the water didn't get much of the debris up because the tube was qutie small. I used my mouth to siphon some of the water until it hit the tube but any water i got in my mouth I spitted it out lol.

[Muirner]

I've only gotten a tiny splash with mine... nothing big. I'll try to post a link to what i have... I dont really like it but for the time being, it works. I wonder if i can just make my current one into a "python" just by extending the hose 75' and hooking it up to my sink through a similar adapter... hmmmm

How long was the hose WierdMeta?

[WeirdMeta]

Does anyone know what I can use to clean the inside of the tank glass. I happen to have one of those "Turtle-specific" type tanks and only keep it filled up with water about as far I as I can put in it. Need I remind everyone that I do plan on getting them as much bigger tank. I just need to know what I can use to clean the other half part of the tank as I tend to get some water on the front inside glass of the tank.

[steve]

Paper towels and microfiber cloth for me.

[VelvetAlley]

Up until I got my bigger tank, I "bucketed it."
I changed the water for the first time a few weeks ago. I used a garden hose, stuck it out the window and into the garden, and it created some massive suction! (I'm on the 2nd floor) To drain 75 gal it only took about 5-7 mins! I just moved the hose around to pick up the debries on the bottom.
There was about 1/2 cm of water left in the bottom, which I just sopped up with a rag and bucket. I ended up just scrubbing the tank with nothing but fresh water, as it was pretty clean.
Then to fill it up, I've got a hose connection for the bathroom faucet, got the right ratio of hot to cold so the temp is about 75, and let 'er fill up!

This is what I do word for word. Except I refill it three or four times and slosh the water around to get the waste floating on the surface. Then hose to the backyard and move the end in the tank around like a vacuum.

[scripta_elegans]

Steve-What type of microfiber do you use, and where did you find it?

[steve]

Steve-What type of microfiber do you use, and where did you find it?

I don't use any specific kind, but the one I've used recently is the kind they sell for washing cars. They're cheap and do a heck of a job soaking up water...

[retard]

How about this: get a python and a hose. run the hose out your nearest window and then other end near the tank. have a bucket on hand just incase. Now start the syphon and put it in the bucket. oce you are ready, grab the hose and put it in the buck so you dont get water everywhere. Then put the phythons hose in the other hose leading out side. no more buckets. and to fill, hook the hose up to your sink