Neat way to vacuum you tank.

Looking for a better way to vacuum detritus I came across this thread over at RC:
(Sounds like a good idea)


So, I know 'nothing is new under the sun' and likely many have come up with ideas better than this, but I thought I'd share my experience in hopes that someone might find it helpful:

In trying to keep my detritus cleaned up and off my rocks, I've tried vacuuming it out during water changes, as well as using the turkey baster technique to blow it out into the water column so it can be filtered out the overflow.

Problem is, when you blast it out into the water column, if often settles back onto the rocks/sand before it has a chance to get sucked out into the sump and filtered out. So, I've spent countless hours squirting my turkey baster keeping it suspended and making my corals all kinds of angry. And if you're vacuuming it out with your water change, you only have so much water to remove, so you inevitably run out of water before getting it all cleaned out.

My solution? Sticking my 5/8" siphon hose directly into the bottom of my filter sock (in my sump below the tank...that would prove a necessary part of this procedure) and placing a 12" long piece of rigid pipe on the aquarium end of the hose. Start siphon so its pulling directly from the tank into the filter sock, bypassing the overflow and creating an endless siphon (water being replaced in the tank by my return pump). Then, I take my turkey baster and carefully blast my rocks while holding my siphon in the vicinity. Voila! Removal of said detritus and a sock full of goo. Swap the sock and you got clean rocks!

OK, I know its not that great of an idea. But it works for me!
Handy Dandy detritus vacuum idea - Reef Central Online Community

 

It's a good idea/technique.

 

Seems really neat. I personally like some detritus because I stir it up for my corals. My gorgonians and NPS really love it when I do. Can't imagine it making corals angry? Keep in mind this is in a bare bottom 14 gallon biocube, I have a very small pile of detritus that settles out and can be removed with one full basting.

 

ive done this alot for detritus and red slime.

 

For those who don't use socks, you can hang a HOB on the front of the sump and place the end of the hose behind the filter pad.

 

I feel like a complete moron for this thinking of this myself.

 

Glad I'm not the only one feeling like a moron right now! Looks like i have a new "trick"!

 

Make sure you check out the pics on page two of his turkey squirter/sucker.

 

They use to sell this in LFS Bach in the old under gravel days