Gravel vacuum that won't remove water?

[mgudyka]

Alright folks, does this type of device exist?

My pea puffer tank gets messy pretty quickly. I used to think I had a snail poop problem, but with my snail population at an all time low but this debris still running rampant, I am in need of a solution. I think my driftwood is like shedding or something. It's like wet sawdust at the base of the driftwood. 

I have no problem doing water changes with gravel vacuuming, but one change doesn't get everything no matter how hard I try. I am checking my water daily to make sure there is no ammonia or nitrites and nitrates are at a minimum and that hasn't been an issue. I don't want to upset my fish but draining and refilling my tank more than once in a single sitting. I just want to suck up all the garbage but keep my water. 

Does such a device exist?

[Jennifer V]

I use a turkey baster to target the gross stuff in my puffer tank. It's kind of labor intensive, but it doesn't suck up as much water, just gunk. I really just need to top off the water a little bit after a session. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

@Jennifer V If you think that's labor intensive try doing it with lab pips, it's what my paranoid self is using around my Oto babies. 

[Jennifer V]

@xXInkedPhoenixX wow! Now that's impressive. What a good fish parent you are! 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

@Jennifer V I'd feel bad if I sucked one of them up. As it is when I do a water change I use cheese cloth and a rubber band at the end so they have a chance against the suction. AND I use a flash light to illuminate them. I need 3 hands really to do a water change. 4 would help too. 

[Hobbit]

@mgudyka is the debris large enough that you could catch it in a very fine mesh net?

[Streetwise]

If you choose not to gravel vac, I’ve got your back.

[Alexa]

If you’re handy, Google “diy water polisher” to find tons of designs for a recirculating gravel vac.

Also, do you pinch the hose while you gravel vac to control how fast the water drains? I picked up that tip from the co-op!