Cleaning your BB tanks

L

lawdog

New member
Ok guys... after years of having a DSB I decided when I moved I would switch to BB and crank up the flow for my SPS tank. After going to BB for awhile now I do like the cleanliness of the tank and the overall water params have never been better. I have two tunze streams on a controller blasting away and turning over the tank roughly 20x's.

But nevertheless I still have two corners where I get some detritus buildup and some heavier particles from the rocks in general which settle here it drives me nuts. I have two tunze nano streams on order from SC to place in both corners to help kick up the flow even more in those spots and under the rock work which is open.

I have attempted for some time to figure out an easy way to siphon/vaccum the bottom of the tank to no avail. I either have to have a long siphon tube in the tank and end up knocking over or breaking off coral branches and splashing water all over and make a mess or I have a maxi jet that I put a tube on one end and try to vaccum the gunk into a filter sock but it lasts for like two seconds as the particles jam up the pump and I have to take it apart and clean it and suck up another area for like 2 seconds and then it jams again.

I have seen those battery powered vaccum gravel cleaners from Hagen or something but it is only like 12 inches long so somehow I would have to extend its reach to make it work. I am at a loss for how to make this seemingly simple task easier.

Please help with any ideas as to how to "EASILY" Vaccum a BB tank.
Thanks
 
I just picked up a magnum canister filter for that exact application. Although I am using it to clean the sump, etc where I can't get a good siphon.
 
i usually use a long piece of tube running into a bucket with a filter sock on the other end. I siphon the crap into the bucket, remove the the filter sock and dump the water back in the tank. I do this about once a week.
 
well i think you might be able to get the detritus with more flow most BB tanks run 30x-40x
have you thought of adding some more flow along the bottom of the tank ?
 
I run 2 Tunze 6100's in my 120, one is on a wavysea and I still get a buildup. I must have 75x turnover.
 
ive been barebottom a while now and found siphoning crap off the bottom to be un avoidable. keeping it stirred up just gets it all stuck in the rocks. i think the siphoning into the filter sock was a great idea. i use a HOT magnum for quick siphon jobs. poop ... makes me hate my fish now...
 
I really like that sock idea, I have been bare bottom on my 30 for a while now and just went on the 240. No regrets there at all

what sort of sock are we talking about (mesh size and where to get)

Briney
 
Thanks, I was thinking that way but not sure
I am heading to Salty tonight I will have to check what they have that is close to what Pa has

Briney
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9142271#post9142271 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Briney Dave
Thanks, I was thinking that way but not sure
I am heading to Salty tonight I will have to check what they have that is close to what Pa has

Briney
Click to expand...

Another way that I sometimes do this is to run the tubing back into my sump (with filter bag/sock attached), that way I filter the crap but don't remove any water from the tank and don't have to dump any back in.

--Ray
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9140521#post9140521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raynist
i usually use a long piece of tube running into a bucket with a filter sock on the other end. I siphon the crap into the bucket, remove the the filter sock and dump the water back in the tank. I do this about once a week.
Click to expand...

I do this method also, in my sump.
The return section is large enough in my sump that I can take 5g out with out shutting the pump off so it actually works out well for me.



My return line is an OM 2 way so In side the tank I have that line blowning across the tank towards the two back corners. Then the 2 6100's flow across to the front corners. That keeps the bottom mostly clean. The wavebox helps keep it suspended so that it can go down the overflow into a filter sock.
I still siphon little piles up each water change but not as much...

Siphoning is just part of the BB game.
Somewhat of a pita but its why we went bb in the first place... To keep that poo from breaking down in the a bed. :)
 
I had a similar problem so I pointed 3-tunze 6080's straight down behind my rockwork. Everything now goes to a neat pile at each front corner. I never have to dig around in the tank to get to the poo.


I actually use cotton socks and a rubberband for tank to sump siphoning. 12pk of cotton socks is about $5. I rinse and dry them out until most are dirty then I bleach them again.

I have noticed with the poo blasted into piles its almost just as easy to siphon it and a few gallons of water then replace it. Before I was draining 40gal to get to all the crud laying around different places.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9143058#post9143058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottfarcuz
I had a similar problem so I pointed 3-tunze 6080's straight down behind my rockwork. Everything now goes to a neat pile at each front corner. I never have to dig around in the tank to get to the poo.


I actually use cotton socks and a rubberband for tank to sump siphoning. 12pk of cotton socks is about $5. I rinse and dry them out until most are dirty then I bleach them again.

I have noticed with the poo blasted into piles its almost just as easy to siphon it and a few gallons of water then replace it. Before I was draining 40gal to get to all the crud laying around different places.
Click to expand...

3 - 6080's pointed down!!!!

What size tank do you have?

--Ray
 
My tank is a 30 gallon cube....LOL


Its an aga 210. It is a lot of flow on the very bottom but acans, gorgs, zoa's, chalice etc dont seem to mind it down on the glass.

I'm also running a 6100 stream, wavebox, and a return pump running at about 2400gph into a 1" sea swirl and 2 other fixed PVC outlets. Ive never added up the turnover rate, but when you look at the tank it really doesnt seem like a lot of flow. Ive only been running a BB tank about 5 months, but I really like it so far.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9143619#post9143619 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottfarcuz
My tank is a 30 gallon cube....LOL


Its an aga 210. It is a lot of flow on the very bottom but acans, gorgs, zoa's, chalice etc dont seem to mind it down on the glass.

I'm also running a 6100 stream, wavebox, and a return pump running at about 2400gph into a 1" sea swirl and 2 other fixed PVC outlets. Ive never added up the turnover rate, but when you look at the tank it really doesnt seem like a lot of flow. Ive only been running a BB tank about 5 months, but I really like it so far.
Click to expand...
when i said lots of flow along the bottom i think in meant even more than 6080s in a 210 i was thinking like a 6100 on a 75gallonor two 6055s
im not saying that exxesive flow is how to solve this but alway thought with bare bottom flow should be more than twice as much flow as a sand bed?
 
when i said lots of flow along the bottom i think in meant even more than 6080s in a 210 i was thinking like a 6100 on a 75gallonor two 6055s
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand this but 3 6080s in a 210g is a pretty fair amount of flow.
More flow then a 6100 in a 75g. Plus his return pump and a wave box. Sounds pretty good to me. :)

im not saying that exxesive flow is how to solve this but alway thought with bare bottom flow should be more than twice as much flow as a sand bed?
Click to expand...

Again, not sure I understand here but I dont ever remember reading or hearing you need 2x the flow in a BB vs a DSB.

You CAN have more flow in a BB tank. That is a reason some (mostly SPS) guys go BB.

I would'nt say that you NEED to increase your flow. Especially by 2 fold.

Its just all about what makes your coral, fish and you the tank keeper happy. :)
 
I have two Tunze 6000's along with the return which is a panworld HD 100x to lock line.... I need more flow. I am adding the two nano streams to the bottom to help but I really need to upgrade to the 6100 transformers.

I have been doing the exact same thing as raynist with the filter socks and the siphon/maxijet vaccum. I have a 100 gallon rubbermaid sump that I run the sock and tubing into... But with that much tubing in the tank I end up knocking stuff over and I have a real hard time getting a siphon going. I even bought that JBJ auto siphon but the crude clogs up that contraption as well.

Can I ask what type of tubing/siphon do you guys use? (clear, thin, thick, short, long, reinforced, black vinyl, etc...) There has got to be an easier way of doing this...
 
i use the clear hose that comes with the python no spill clean and fill kit. I just take off the big end that is supposed to go in the gravel.
 
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