Re: Gravel Cleaning and Filtering

"skozzy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> In the past I had a similar problem with a tank, what I did in the end was
a
> little tricky, but I connected a gravle filter hose to a power head, then
> pumped it into a plastic bin (new one not old one), then used a internal
> power filter with a fine mesh on it to pump the water back into the main
> tank. it's wasn't completely easy on my own, and had to get the help of a
> friend to control the power for the power heads and also to hold a hose.
> This was I was able to clean the gravel and keep most of the water.
>
> A slightly easier but slower way was use the gravel filter to clean the
> gravel and syphon into the bin, then when it was nearly full I stopped the
> cleaning for a while and left the water in the bin to stand for 30 mins,
> most of the heavy stuff settled to the bottm and I was able to put most of
> the water back..
>
> After all the stuffing around with the above, what I do now is just syphon
> the gravel from the tank via a hose into a bin, when the bin is half full
> (so I can still move it) I take it outside and hose it down, then put the
> gravel into another bucket, then do the above again untill all the gravel
is
> removed from the tank, once done, I just pour the gravel back into the
tank
> (slowly). I also keep most of the water in plastic bins to settle then use
a
> powerhead to pump most of it back into the tank.
>
> This last was gets cleaner gravel, but is heaver on the back.
>

I was considering something like your method one, as I've got a spare
Powerhead kicking around. I'm doing a water change every two weeks (Python
gravel cleaning). Maybe I could use this method for the odd weeks.

Your method three would definately be the best, but does sound like a pain.
I gather you have to remove the fish for this method? I have to be careful
now, as the young fish hang around the Python waiting for some food to be
released by the cleaning process. The larger fish just stay out of way and
don't seem to stressed by the cleaning.