Aquarium Cleaning Tips

Aquarium Cleaning Machine Tips;

The Aquarium Cleaning Machine is an aquarium cleaning device which is similar to the Vortex filters that were popular a few decades back (& a still used by some), utilizes fine micron filtration (30 microns) with carbon (although it does not need to be used), a powerful motor, and a vacuum bell.
Although I have used a few similar ideas, including rigging some ideas of my own, none have been as effective while at the same time being so extremely simple.
Many popular aquarium cleaning devices such as the Python or even a home made version using Lees aquarium vacuum parts and your own hose are still often practical, however these cannot polish the water in the way this machine can.
This makes the Aquarium Cleaning Machine effective for nitrate control, a more staple pH/KH (by removal of mulm that produces acids, thus destabilizing pH and using KH), and even lowering of Ich Tomites by filtering out many of these Tomites in the micron filter

Combined with other aquarium maintenance procedures and the use of a UV Sterilizer (make sure you change the UV Bulbs in your sterilizer every six months for best results), this aquarium cleaning device can one more tool in keeping a healthy/thriving aquarium

I use this aquarium cleaning device as another tool for proper aquatic husbandry, not as a cure all or magic bullet. I still change 20% + water, the difference is I will use this machine to vacuum and while doing so drain water into a toilet or into the yard (FW). Then after I have changed the desired amount of water, I will then switch the cleaning machine to re-circulate (polish water similar to older Vortex Filters) and continue to clean ALL the mulm and debris that will add to high nitrates if left during a normal cleaning. Please click on the picture to the above/left for a larger view of how I connect a garden hose for easy switching between water changes and then further water polishing
After this I clean the micron cartridge with a bleach solution and I am ready for the next time. All this without the wasted water of Pythons and a vastly cleaner aquarium without the stress to fish of 80% water changes (due to the change in chemistry and other parameters bring) to remove all the mulm.

In freshwater tanks with sand or marine tanks with fine oolite sized aragonite deep sand beds I only thoroughly vacuum the top 1/2" so as to not "aerate" the de-nitrifying bacteria in the sand bed, with occasional “deep” vacuum bell penetrations to prevent mulm buildup or sulfur reducing bacteria buildup.

In these tanks with sand, I will also set the flow valve VERY slow to make it easier to vacuum in sand without pickup by the machine. Once finished in the sandy areas or simply running the machine to polish the water after completion of vacuuming, I generally will turn the valve to a higher flow rate again.

Please see this article for more: "Aquarium Cleaning".