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Author Topic: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel  (Read 443 times)
Onael
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Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« on: December 05, 2011, 12:17:24 AM »
About a week ago I set up a new tank. Part of it, of course, was the substrate.

I chose to go with the Pea Pebbles from Home Depot. I paid less than $4 for a large sack from the gardening section.
[image]


This is a large amount of gravel and I was not looking forward to washing the amount required for the 30 gallon tank I was putting together. Then I happened to come across my old laundry bag that I used while I was in Iraq.
[image]


The netting is large enough to easily wash out all the dirt and the smaller less desirable sized pebbles. Just run a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle through it while giving it a few shakes and your new subsrate will be good to go.
[image]

[image]


Check it out.
[image]


Hope this helps you guys.
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fantailer
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2011, 04:21:13 AM »
You went to Iraq!!!! Cool!!!!
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Nossie
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2011, 08:16:43 AM »
Awesome idea Onael! Cheesy Wish I had a bag like that too, seems very useful.

Could you also tell me how those plants of yours are doing there? Earlier when I had Elodea with my old fantails they got eaten fairly quick. nobody is eating those yet?
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Onael
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2011, 11:57:47 PM »
No, they're doing just fine. They keep sprouting new stems. I've been clipping and replanting them. I got a little jungle going on at the right end of the tank.

Right now I need to do some reading on what I assume is brown algea growing in my tanks. Huh
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saldiscus
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2011, 12:41:24 AM »
it is for filtering , good idea  Smiley
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Nossie
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2011, 05:43:23 AM »
Brown algae is a sign that your tank is crowded, underfiltered or not sufficiently maintained. Have you checked the nitrate levels lately? Smiley
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Onael
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2011, 10:17:20 PM »
I know. I hear you, Nossie. I'm working on my next upgrade.
I bought an API master test kit today. My readings right now need some work. I think I'm still establishing my cycle.

API results:
ph: 7.6
hr ph: 8.4
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 5.0
nitrate: 5.0
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Skwishee
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2011, 04:49:57 AM »
Yeah you'll want to get those Nitrites down... How often are you changing the water at the moment?
You may need to do it more frequently when the Nitrite level is like that, as Nitrites can still affect fish and poison them.

I know when the Nitrites in my tank spiked, Lucky did not like it at all, she was darting and flashing all over the place, so I added some beneficial bacteria to the tank and changed the water every day for a week! After another dose of beneficial bacteria after that week, the tank seemed to sort itself out and Lucky's a lot better  Smiley
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Onael
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2011, 09:30:26 AM »
I'm going to have to try some of that. What brand do you recommend? I was doing 50% weekly water changes, but I'm going to have to try your method until I can get a handle on my parameters.
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Nossie
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2011, 11:55:46 AM »
You probably are getting there, the nitrite readings are fairly low, but still present Smiley
While the tank cycles, you'll probably want to change the water according to the tests, if the nitrites get high, don't worry about changing out a little more frequently than usual, it won't hurt anyone, and it will most likely help the fish a lot.

When it comes to beneficial bacteria, I use fluid filter medium by Easylife, cycled my tank in a week. And I've also had experience with stresszyme by API (I think?), you could check those out Smiley
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Skwishee
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Re: Tip For Washing Larger Gravel
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2011, 06:10:15 PM »
Yup, API makes Stress Zyme  Smiley That's the product I used and it sorted out my tank's insane Nitrite levels in a week -the colour of my nitrite reading was such a deep purple I am sure it was above and beyond the measurements the chart gave!

I was amazed at how useful Stress Zyme was with just one dose on the Sunday. After the week it was pretty much sorted out!

Let us know how it goes Smiley
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