vacuuming a larvae tank

[Lrood]

Does anyone have a good suggestion on how to vacuum a clownfish larvae tank without including the larvae? My first adventure last night resulted in a clean tank bottom, but then I spent about 30 minutes retrieving vacuumed larve with a dropper a placing them back in the tank! They didn't seem any worse off for their brief trip, but my back was unhappy after bending over the bucket that long chasing 3 mm long targets.

 

[FB]

I'm having the same problem. I am using a piece of solid air tubing to clean the bottom. This sort of allows you to pick your spot better. However I always end up with a couple getting sucked up.

As well I am looking for suggestions.

 

[Abominable Reef]

I haven't gotten far enough along with a hatch to see if this works, but what if you turn all of the lights in the room off, and shine a flashlight at the top of the tank to collect larvae there. Then vacuum the bottom.

Just an idea.

 

[ShannHell]

In the "Clownfishes" book by Joyce Wilkerson she has a little contraption for cleaning the bottom without sucking up larvae. I can't remember much of it, because I don't have the book in front of me right now, but if you have the book you could check. I will try to remember to look tonight and post it if possible.

 

[FB]

Yes, I think she calls it the vac-in-box. Somthing to do with metal coffee filters.

FB

 

[ShannHell]

Yup, something like that. It seemed like it would be a little bit of work to find the stuff needed, but she says that it will clean the tank "unsupervised" and won't take out all the water even if you forget about it. Something about it will lose suction at a certain point.

 

[Lrood]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have Wilkerson's book and will check that again. I thought that contraption was for water changes, but I may be wrong. For now I'll try the rigid air tube, and may try using the light trick to bring them to one side near the top.

 

[gpsmart]

I use rigid and flexible air tubing. About 30cm of rigid tube connected to flexible tubing. I siphon into a white bucket but keep hold of the end of the flexible tubing. If any of the larvae get too close i put my finger over the end of the tube to temporarily stop the siphon. I do still get a few larvae in the bucket occasionally but i just suck them into the end of the solid tubing and carefully place them back into the tank. Works well for me.