CalmedByFish Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 Easiest way to siphon (or otherwise remove) small piles of poo from the bottom of a 5 gallon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaitieG Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 I've had good success just using the hose part of a syphon without the hard acrylic tube on the end. The hose just pops off and you can syphon just with that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GardenStateGoldfish Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 I use airline tubing on my fry tanks which may be to petite for you but they make great siphon for small things 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share Posted April 8, 2021 4 hours ago, KaitieG said: the hose part of a syphon without the hard acrylic tube on the end and @GardenStateGoldfish How do you get the suction started when not using the wide part on the end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeisgood Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 1 minute ago, CalmedByFish said: and @GardenStateGoldfish How do you get the suction started when not using the wide part on the end? Get part of the tube filled with tank water by submerging 1/4 of the tube in the tank, tip it up so the water fills the mid to bottom section of your tube but pinch it off to keep it in the tube. Then put the top end in the tank and keep the end submerged in the water. Then release the bottom end so the water that was in the tube will flow out into your bucket. As that water goes into the bucket the syphon effect will begin to suck more water from your tank.😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaitieG Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 10 minutes ago, CalmedByFish said: and @GardenStateGoldfish How do you get the suction started when not using the wide part on the end? I have well water with no chlorine, so I usually fill the syphon hose at the sink, plug the end with my finger and then pop the finger-plugged end in the tank. For my 5.5 gallon, I usually just use a couple of quart yogurt containers to catch the water, and the tank's in the kitchen so I dump as I go as needed. Not saying this is a super pro way to do it, but it's working for me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share Posted April 8, 2021 @Lifeisgood If I understand you right, it's the same way you start a suction when also using the wide part of the siphon. Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeisgood Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 15 minutes ago, CalmedByFish said: @Lifeisgood If I understand you right, it's the same way you start a suction when also using the wide part of the siphon. Right? Yup. Just make sure there is water in your hose that will pull more water out of your tank when you are ready to start syphoning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 This is just another way that I've found- I have been taking care of almost 40 baby Otocinclus for the last month in varying stages- I have some in a small breeder, and now the vast majority in a 10 gallon grow out. Siphoning is amazing but it makes me nervous around babies. So I found that "vacumming" with a Liquid dropper like a very small turkey baster is an AMAZING tool. I can easily vacuum up old food around all the translucent babies in the little breeder- and today, though it's just a little more time consuming I cleaned up the bare floor of the 10 gallon. Squeeze the dropper head put it in the tank or breeder and just go around slowly letting up on the squeeze ball- I dump it in a cup so I can easily tell if any wayward babies are in it (thankfully that has not happened so far). I buy very small ones but I bet there are bigger ones or even that turkey baster you never use, that could also help with fine detailing/controlled vacumming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GardenStateGoldfish Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 2 hours ago, CalmedByFish said: How do you get the suction started when not using the wide part on the end? I do it the old fashioned way... I suck on the end not in the tank haha. pretty much like a straw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 3 hours ago, GardenStateGoldfish said: I do it the old fashioned way... I suck on the end not in the tank haha. pretty much like a straw. 🤢 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 4 hours ago, xXInkedPhoenixX said: I found that "vacumming" with a Liquid dropper like a very small turkey baster is an AMAZING tool. I actually have a few tiny ones (previously used for human meds) that I could try. I hesitate to stick my hands in the tank for fear of what sorts of residue my skin might be transferring in, but. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 @CalmedByFish just wash ur hands/arms good and make sure all the soap residue is off. I've never hurt my fish by sticking my hands in, in fact there have been a couple of times I've saved them for doing it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 Turkey Baster. Especially if bare bottom. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamh Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 I use airline above but with a long piece of rigid tubing. You have great spot control this way, and then just kink the hose in your other hand to stop suction when needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT_ Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 I found airline tubing fits well over the luer end of a syringe Then just pull the plunger out of the syringe and you have a tiny gravel vac. If you don't like the little wings at the end you can cut the syringe down with a serrated knife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted April 9, 2021 Share Posted April 9, 2021 I use airline tubing taped to a chopstick. Credit for the idea goes to @Irene , thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted April 9, 2021 Author Share Posted April 9, 2021 @CT_I have a ton of excess syringes from a kid who eats via tube. I easily could try that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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