What is our favorite sand? kzread.info/dash/bejne/iWiit658eauwo5s.html How nitrate impacts fish health: kzread.info/dash/bejne/pIiYzMyTgqWvdLg.html How water parameters impact fish health: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mWqZqNRslbDJhdo.html How to maintain sand substrate: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gZl60pKifNqaqbQ.html How to reduce algae without scraping glass: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gKWIt9F6XcbNn6Q.html Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics

@unusualaquariumecosystems5805

4 жыл бұрын

Are there any creatures that consume detritus worms? I have like a million of them.

@pancudowny

4 жыл бұрын

My last comment inspired this, didn't it? {:s

The strongest argument for gravel vacuuming is the surprising amount of gross, brown crud I can pull out of a tank that looked clean when I started.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Ya, it's amazing what gets trapped!

One of the most impactful changes I have made is to essentially eliminate substrate. On my large tanks I use Aquadecor rock like bottom mats with a little bit of sand around the edges. I then use high capacity powerheads to "sweep" the bottom and to keep the detritus suspended till it gets sucked into the sump. Need more filter capacity with this approach but I hated gravel vacuuming and the high dirt holding sponges in my sump are easy to clean.

All good points especially # 5. I still gravel vac in my planted tanks, going around where I can not to disturb the plants. It’s always amazing how much stuff comes up!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

It's a rewarding experience seeing all that stuff come out of the tank. :-)

@strikeout77777

4 жыл бұрын

its amazing how much more darker the water is , if you have alot of snail poop

Excellent points. I always vac when I do a water change

Great video!! I learned soo much important info

Great advice. Thank you.

Good stuff as always !

Very useful reminder.

Can’t recall who told me but I like the idea draining my Python into a bucket in the sink. The bucket collects the sand from spilling down the drain with the discarded water. Bonus... you get a setup for an easy punchline.

Great information for newbies!! We've been using pool filter sand for all of our tanks for years now. Keep Doing what you Love, we're enjoying watching!! Many Thanks!!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I was wondering how you were gonna fit 7 reasons in there 🤣 Nice maneuver. 👍

I love my gravel vac, especially if I just want to do a quick and small water change between my main ones if I feed something messy or notice extra waste.

Great information as usual! Thank you

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! :-)

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your videos. I'm a three decade long fish keeper but I learn a lot from your videos as well as get affirmation on things I'm doing or considering. Nice job in your presentation in your videos too.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for being here!

Good info.

I completely controlled my algae problem with floating Frogbit and Salvinia.

This was so helpful. Thank you. Love you're fish room to💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚 #chicago

I have some really deep and large tanks where gravel cleaning is a real hassle. I have replaced the substrate with Aquadecor, simulated rock bottom mats, with a a small amount of black sand around the edges. I then have a high output powerhead "sweeping" the bottom of the tank to keep the detritus suspended until it gets sucked into my sump overflows. Eliminated my biggest maintenance task. Does require more filtration capacity in my sumps, where I use Poret foam, but overall it is a lot less work and less stressful on the fish.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

Love it !

Great video just did my first vac pushing off for to long..

i've never thought not to use a Gravel vac

I love that you keep these videos brief and to-the-point! Do you recommend gravel on top of substrate? I just have substrate now, and am reluctant to vacuum it directly.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Sand or plant substrate? You can put gravel over planted substrate, but if you have a lot of plants I would let the mulm sink into the substrate.

Thanks, had loads of problems recently no mater how many times i changed the water my nitrates where high. Gave it a good Vac the other day and boy that has made a difference....

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

This will help for sure!

Primetime let's go

Good morning Mr. And Mrs. Primetime 😂😁 well today is water change day, so another great subject. My new tank has stratum in it, so I have had to learn to be a little more creative. ... Now I'm going around the tank with a airline tubing rubber banded to a chopstick 😂👍 (I have to admit I miss the gravel vac.) It is a pretty good trick though (This is the first time I've worked with this substrate) Thanks for a nice way to start the day! Hope you all have a great weekend! ❤️🐟🌿🌱

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

That is a great solution! :-) Ya, that stuff is a little too light to gravel vac. Haha

All good points, I find having several water intakes and good circulation will prevent major buildup. I use poret filter foam only in canisters; it literally lasts a lifetime and only requires a quick rinse.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

For sure - good water flow solves a lot of issues. :-)

Great channel. Greatings from Poland/Europe

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! Appreciate you watching!

Once a week with my water change I vacuum the gravel and move around the ornaments and plants my GSP loves it

I have a technique for my sand bottom: i hoover over it with a small circling motion. Detritus will come up in my siphon. As this tank is planted i don't take it all out but most of what is sitting on top. I also move it around and proceed to my water change.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I do the same. :-)

Guys could you do a video on the Apisto panduro please.

Seems so obvious but I like the way you link everything in your reasoning. For instance if you do not gravel vac then there will be more food and detritus in the tank that will kick up making your tank look dirty that will then get into the filter that will then clog it up which then leads to more maintenance which leads to more money you need to spend on media which leads to you having to work more to make money (ok, I added that one) buy you get the idea. You ask the why question and what if questions. I like the way you think! Again, short and too the point. Great video

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I’ve got aqua soil:/ can’t really do it but I’ve got a carpet of Monte so u can still vac the carpet though !! :)

In lieu of gravel vacuum my planted aquarium, I attached a coarse sponge filter to the end of my hose. I can tap the bottom and suck up some of the crap and stuff.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Nice idea!

Nothing to do with cleaning, but those red spotted gold severum... wow! And those apistogramma pandero... I’m going to need more tanks!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

That's what happens to me too! Haha

Thxs for the video. Informative as always. By the way the Geophagus with the dark stripe running vertically through the eye is beautiful. What species is it? I need to add Geophagus species to my growing collection-from 1 tank to now 14. It’s been decades that I owned one. I only have Microgeophagus- Bolivian & GB Rams.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

That is actually Guianacara stergiosi - a really cool fish!

This time of year can’t wait to gravel vac,take the water out and use in garden. In my greenhouse its all I use on seeds and then the seedlings. Have a great day Professor. Have you heard is anything in the works to take the place of Aquatic Experience,it was about the only event I could make?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Hey John! Yes, tank water is great for plants! The last I heard Aquatic Experience is not happening anymore, which stinks because I liked it. Aquashella Dallas was moved to October and as far as I know Aquashella Chicago is still scheduled for the first week of August, but we'll see if that needs to be moved back as well.

I use a gravel vac but only hover over the substrate because I use aquasoil.

@2.55 can anyone tell me what those yellow tail fish are?

I use a smaller vaccuum on my sand tanks .

Thx for the video, it was useful😁 Can plants that are rooted in sand take those nutrients as food? Also could you make a video about anaerobic bacteria..pls THAT'S SO CONFUSING😣 Stay safe🌟

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I will add it to the list! Yes, some of the waste still eventually gets in to the sand so the rooted plants can still utilize the nutrients, but not as easily as if they were rooted in gravel.

I have small tanks, 10g, 5.5g and 2.5g. I do weekly water changes. When I do gravel vac I do it in sections. Front at 1 water change, side the next. I don't want to over vaccum it and lose benefical bacteria. I love doing maintenance on them.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Cool! Lots of people do that as well. :-)

Unrelated question, maybe a video suggestion: How long does it take for fry to grow to an adolescent size? I have a few Tanganyikan fish that breed regularly and it seems that it takes months for the fry to get to a size where I could sell them or trade them in for credit at a fish store. It can take a year or more to get to adult size. How long does it take different fish you have bred from hatchling to adult? Oh, and my favorite fish is my Electric Blue Acara, but I also like my Brichardi Colony. It is mesmerizing to see 50 or so fish from 1/4 inch to adult size plus a cloud of fry all swimming together.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

3 жыл бұрын

I agree - many Tanganyikans take a long time to grow. Growth rates just depend on the type of fish. The fastest I've seen were the Tilapia I had. Oscars grow really fast too!

Not trying to be a "troller" ...but what is the wormy -looking thing swimming upwards past the plecos at 1:10 ? Is it live food? I'm kinda new at fishkeeping.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Most likely a detritus worm. I find plecos don't eat them, but other fish often do, so in pleco-only tanks they are a little more numerous.

Very helpful video. Also can you grow plants by using a sand substrate?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely! We have lots of plants growing in sand.

@giosasuman702

4 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics awesome thank you very much

00:35 Are those snail eggs? Also, any recommendations for a Betta with popeye. It is mainly in one eye but the other eye is also slightly affected. Melafix was useless. So I put Athena in a 2.5 hospital tank and began dosing with Erythtromycin four days ago. 15 minute epsom salt baths for the past two days. Seeing some improvement slowly but still a ways to go.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

2 ай бұрын

You’re doing what I would suggest!

@neilmartin99

2 ай бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks

Do you have any videos that review the different vacs? And anything with manual vs battery powered? I don’t have tanks big enough to use a python/sink attachment, plus I have city water so I’d be worried I’d chlorinate my fish to death. Does sound like it makes water changes much easier with a sink attachment though!!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think I do, but we have been using the Aqueon gravel vac for many years and find it adequate. They usually give us a couple years of service before they have to be replaced and with the volume they handle I'm happy with that. You can always add the dechlorinator right before or as the water is going back in the tank.

Nearly all my tanks are planted and I have NO substrate. I grow epiphytes - and swords and crypts in small pond baskets with eco complete. With powerheads my tank bottoms are nearly spotless. After 60+ years of fish keeping my fish have never been healthier. PS I do have more filter media to handle the extra detritus.

I have a 40 gal stock tub,with White Clouds.I dont gravel vac.

what medium priced vac can you recommend? :)

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

We just use the aqueon ones from Petsmart.

Haven’t done a gravel vac in my 75 since I set up months ago. I don’t want to disturb the roots and keep whatever crap there is down there for the plants to feed off of. Plus, I have root tabs spaced out and I don’t want to hit one and pull the fertilizer up from the bottom

@Iamaguienapig

4 жыл бұрын

Steven Thompson Same.

I have bare bottom tanks. I do 50% water changes a week on each tank. It has been a year since I've had algea...

@Zachary360Games

4 жыл бұрын

How do you keep the bottom so clean? My breeding tank for convicts has a lot of debris that builds up and when I try to suck it up it spreads out all over.

I have a 75 gallon tank with some plants with roots. I still fight algae from time to time even with routine water changes. I think i need to do more gravel vacuuming. How do you recommend gravel vacuuming with plants in the tank? Thoughts on under gravel pump/filter systems?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

I don’t gravel vac much with plants. Maybe check nitrates? That might help determine if more volume needs to be changed (we shoot for 20-30ppm in planted tanks).

@JKH99

2 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics awesome! Thanks sir.

I got a high stocked guppy tank 20L, I never vacuum, my fish are in perfect health, nitrate is ok, water is clear.

@jordanyang3066

4 жыл бұрын

so long as you do water changes you'll be fine. theres people with tanks that never gravel vac and have been set up for years thriving. it's not easy to get a tank that balanced though.

Should I gravel vac if I'm going through the nitrogen cycle on a newer aquarium

@PrimeTimeAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

If there are no fish in the tank - no. If you have fish in the tank - yes.

since you dont gravel vac sand then can you put sand only around the base of your rooted plants? is that a good idea?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

You can try but it often spreads out anyway.

My Red devil Has a black spot on his nose & the edge of this tail fun & at the edge of his top fin ?? Is this a problem?? This is only on one of them the other one is fine. Thanks for your time.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I have found Red Devils and Midas cichlid to have significant variation in color. I've had them almost completely white, fully orange and some with a little back mixed in.

@2:22 what is that fish called? :o Really beautiful!

@jesseheidenthal1209

4 жыл бұрын

Severum

When you gravel vac sand aquariums do you remove all the decor ? How do you do it? Do you have a video or pointers. Thanks

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Here you go: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gZl60pKifNqaqbQ.html

👍

I normally gravel vac my tanks. However, i have some tiny new baby shrimp in my 10 gallon partially planted tank with four guppies. How do you change your water and do a gravel vac without sucking up the babies? If you place something over the vac to keep from sucking up the babies, then you cant get the fish waste 🤔

@PrimeTimeAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

I usually put the gravel vac in without sucking up water yet, and gently move them to the other side of the tank. :-)

What is the best travel vac--one that is battery operated or a siphon?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I like the hand-pump equipped gravel vacs.

The problem I am having, is when I do gravel vac, I am losing too much water so I end up having to turn my filter off... and then when I turn it back on.. all the particulates from the media flow right back into the water, and clouds the water just a bit. What should I do about this? Thank you.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

3 жыл бұрын

You could go with a smaller gravel vac, or raise whatever is catching the water to slow things down? We shut our filters off too - a little stuff winds up in the water, but it usually settles within an hours or so.

What about planted tanks?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

10 ай бұрын

I generally don’t put the gravel vac into the substrate near plant roots.

50 gallong tank idea, 2 electrik blue acara, 5 discus fish, and I bristle nose pleco??? Would this be over stocking???

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I think the discus might cause you issues later? They get really big - I've seen them easily larger than my hand top to bottom.

@dr.smoore2003

4 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics so what would be a good tank mate for my two electric blue acadas or should it just be them but like 8 of them?

Every time I do a gravel vac my tank gets cloudy is that normal?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

It is when tanks are newer. Once they settle in it becomes less intense. Most of our tanks look a little cloudy right after cleaning, but usually settle back down after a few hours.

Is once a month ok to clean your gravel? I normally do that when I change the water.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

As long as your nitrates are under control - sure.

If dirt is bad for them what about in the wild for example where cardinal tetras and rummy nose live there’s so much debris floating around and leaves and twigs

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

A natural setting is extremely different from an artificial setting that we create. There are so many organisms missing in our aquarium that are found in nature that complete biochemical processes.

How often should a planted Aquarium be gravel vacced?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

11 ай бұрын

We still gravel vac them weekly, but stay away from the roots.

77.7k subscribers

👍👍👌👌😍😍

What if the tank in planted? Isn't that what the plants feed off of?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Yep, we don't gravel vac our planted tanks (for the most part).

I’m gonna gravel vac the crap out of my gravel when I get home. Yes pun intended.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Haha - nice.

I water my house plants with gravel vacuum water. The house plants love it. Great fertilizer!

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I bet they do! :-)

I cant grvel vac or ill pull up all my roots and soil.

Can I gravel back with every water change

@PrimeTimeAquatics

7 ай бұрын

That’s what we do!

How often do u gravel vac?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Every time we do water changes on non-planted tanks, so about once per week on most tanks.

Which gravel vac?? Fluval? Eheim? Or a bucket and hose?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

Жыл бұрын

We use the Top Fin brand from Petsmart.

2:45 what fish is that??

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

That is Cyprichromis leptosoma!

@MRACTION64

4 жыл бұрын

Prime Time Aquatics thank you! they look awesome

Never ever have I vacuumed the gravel in any of my tanks. They’re all heavy planted, some are low stocked, some are over stocked and I have no issues in the 10+ years I’ve been keeping fish. My old timer betta tank has been up for four years and I’ve never vacuumed it. Not going to start now.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

We don't gravel vac our planted tanks either. They can use the nutrients! :-)

@Iamaguienapig

4 жыл бұрын

Prime Time Aquatics 👍👍👍👍

#TeamMulm

What's the name of the fish at 3:40 please?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

That is Guianacara stergiosi

@rara5212

4 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you

Are benefitial bacteria killed by grave vacuüming?

@PrimeTimeAquatics

3 жыл бұрын

No, they usually adhere pretty well to the substrate so you probably won't be removing very much.

@majinbouz8485

3 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics okay thx for the information!

a few reasons is cause its nasty it will start to stink and cloud your water and make your fish sick with diseases like fin rot etc.

Basically an algae outbreak is a giveaway.

Can't find a single video on WHEN to vac

@PrimeTimeAquatics

2 жыл бұрын

We do it every week.

Yeah but can you overdo it is the real question? Like with gravel substrate and no plants and doing a gravel vac with each water change. I've heard to only do half or only do surface of the rocks...seems like everyone has a different theory. At one point I think I was getting my aquarium too clean is the reason I ask.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I don't think so if you don't have plants. The beneficial microbes adhere to the surface of substrate strongly enough that gravel vac-ing isn't going to impact their populations in any meaningful way.

@sixteenstone007

4 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics ok thank you that's what I was wanting to hear! Love your channel and thanks for answering my question!

My dad showed me an easy way to vacuum sand. Just put a sock on the end.

When should i gravel vac? Like once a week? Or once a month? Thanks to whomever replies:)

@PrimeTimeAquatics

3 жыл бұрын

I do it every time I do a water change.

@raiyanhawaiian538

3 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks!

I don’t think people vacuum enough. Even once a month makes a huge difference. I’m guessing you don’t gravelvac your 50g lowboy with the shellies... they do it for you. I don’t vacuum the sand in my eartheater tank either - seven of them churn it pretty well... they love to spit it on the heads of the clown loaches.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Ya, some tanks don't really need it - heavily planted or tanks with very active bottom-dwellers. :-)

Hi Jason, great video and tips. But hang on a minute, sorry have to disagree about sand substrates. I'm used to gravel and vacuuming at least weekly. Recently setup a tank with black aquarium sand, added a few plants from my LFS. I was siphoning off the detritus from the top of the sand as everyone told me to do. Well a few stem plants died so I pulled them up by the roots. Suddenly... OH MY LORD!!! Little white worms came out of the sand, gross! Checked them out and yep detritus worms. Where did they come from I wondered. With the plants from my LFS, dang, never had them in over 50 years in the hobby. Took all the fish and plants out and ran the tank for 4 months doing 75% gravel vacs twice a week (Python 1 1/2" x 36" tube) into buckets (no sand loss). The amount of worms were astronomical. I'm still seeing some so it's bleach time! I'm thinking I should have known better and gravel vacuumed from the beginning. I couldn't believe how much mulm and gunk came out. I've always been a bit anal about keeping all my tanks pristine, even my bare breeding tanks.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

We get worms in some of our tanks from time to time. I just leave them there. They don't seem to hurt anything and usually, as you mentioned, only appear when there is excess waste in the substrate.

@James_Hande

4 жыл бұрын

@@PrimeTimeAquatics I realize they shouldn't hurt anything but to me they are nasty to see wiggling through my tank, YUCK LOL. Strange thing is my fish wasn't able to control the population boom...? Once I eradicate them I'll be sand vacuuming regularly for sure. Fish that were in the 40B; 4 medium angels, 6 cory's, 6 cherry barbs. I was careful as always not to over feed and siphoned 2 times a week.

detritus? fish waste? i use decomposer bacteria. nitrate? i use devilivy photos and lots of plant. algae? no. my ottocinclus and snail need it. also. algae is good nitrate ammonia remover.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

I agree in planted tanks gravel vac-ing is often unnecessary (something I try to make clear in the video). Without live plants, gravel vac-ing is often extremely helpful.

Another reason for me is that the vac picks up some of the nuisance snails hiding in the gravel.

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

It sure does. :-)

Gravel Vac your fish tanks, because it's a glass box, not an actual stream, river etc. Lol

@PrimeTimeAquatics

4 жыл бұрын

Well said!

I let my Amazon swords do the work for me

@mikaelafox6106

4 жыл бұрын

How do they do it? Genuinely curious.

@martink4358

4 жыл бұрын

@@mikaelafox6106 Amazon swords are heavy root feeders they're great for excess nutrients in aquariums

Yeah, no man. Put tons of plants and never touch the gravel.

First!

@WeThePeople_FJB

4 жыл бұрын

Nobody cares