waste eaters

[Coop]

Is there anything that will actually eat the waste from the other fish? I know, kind of nasty, but just curious.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: waste eaters

catfish?

probably nothing beats a python when it comes to getting rid of waste.

[Coop]

Re: waste eaters

Got a python, but due to the extemely high prices of water ( and sewage) in kingwood, I am trying a little easier route. Due to all my water changes and gravel vacuuming from the sand to the illnesses, my water bill went up a hundred dollars. Trying to stay away from that again.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: waste eaters

Snails work well, along with a good wet/dry filter and plenty of green growies

[Mzungu]

Re: waste eaters

True, "green growies" work well   , snails will eat some, but they also produce waste. Nothing else really eats waste from fish, at least the solid waste. Anything that eats will produce some kind of waste. There's really no substitute for water changes. Even if you do find something that will clean up all the poop, you still need water changes. (but hopefully not as many as the past couple of weeks for you!)

[jbicb3]

Re: waste eaters

Plants help a lot. If your fish won't distroy them.

[szidlon]

Re: waste eaters

Got a python, but due to the extemely high prices of water ( and sewage) in kingwood, I am trying a little easier route. Due to all my water changes and gravel vacuuming from the sand to the illnesses, my water bill went up a hundred dollars. Trying to stay away from that again.

I haven't tried it, but I think someone said once you get the syphon started with the faucet you don't have to run the water and it'll continue syphoning.  I direct syphon mine into the flower bed with the hose and just use the faucet attachment to refill.

[logan5]

Re: waste eaters

how about one of those battery powerd gravel vacs?  Has anyone tried that?

Logan5

[Ellen]

Re: waste eaters

I can turn off the faucet and the suction continues.

Ellen

[szidlon]

Re: waste eaters

Ellen,

Congrats, I didn't know your wedding day was imminent. I thought it was you who said you could turn the faucet off, but I didn't want to mis-quote anyone.

[Ellen]

Re: waste eaters

Thank you! Yes, it was me who said it before, in the "What gravel vac do you use?" thread.

Ellen

[htown]

Re: waste eaters

I dont use the water faucet to drain my tank. I get the flow started and let hose drain out the door or to the toilet, it is a little slower, but it works.

[Teeleton]

Re: waste eaters

I'm running a walstad style naturally planted tank, and I haven't changed the water or even had to top it off in three months.  The canopy seals really well, so evaporation is almost nil.   Nitrate and Nitrite are zero in the tank.

Teeleton

[eklikewhoa]

Re: waste eaters

Wouldn't all the nutrients deplete in there?

[Teeleton]

Re: waste eaters

Since it's a low light tank (1.45W/G), the excess fish food decomposes into the substrate, and keeps the plants fed.  Light and Fish food.  That's all I've ever put in it.  The low light keeps the demand low.

Teeleton