Siphon Tank

Yes, the most important thing for your new freshwater fish tank is changing the water. Why? Well, water changes involve more than just removing water from the tank and replacing it. You have to consider the condition of the water you are replacing it with, and the amount of water to remove. These can affect the water quality, and the state of your aquarium’s health.

Colonies of beneficial bacteria grow on every surface in the tank. These bacteria are part of the biological filter; allowing them to thrive will help improve the quality of the biological filtration system.

Every time you clean you fish tank, you should remove 10-15% of the water and replace it with fresh, dechlorinated tap water (bowl and small tanks need larger water changes more often). While you are doing this, you should use your siphon to vacuum some of the debris collected in the gravel. If you have an under water filter it is very important to clean the gravel when you do your water changes every week, or every other week, and this will remove waste particles, and oxygenate the substrate as well, allowing nutrients and oxygen to reach the biological bacteria living on the gravel. Usually, you can clean 25-33% of the gravel when you siphon 10-15% of the water.

What do you need?

· A siphon

· A dedicated brand new 5 gallon or larger bucket

· A source of water

Place the bucket and the siphon next to the aquarium in preparation for the water change.

Turn off all electricity to avoid any dangers. Heaters can break if exposed to excessive air as it will try to heat the room’s temperature. Filters can go dry if water levels go below the suction tubing.

Place the vacuuming part of your siphon in the tank and start suctioning. How you do this depends on the type of siphon you have. Make sure the other end is below the end in the tank so that gravity pulls down the water into the bucket.

Remove any solid wastes inside the fish tank by gently siphoning the gravel to pick any settled debris. Imagine a checker board on the bottom and clean square by square. Keep the vacuuming end close to the gravel so you won’t suction any fish.

When the bucket is almost full remove the tubing from the fish tank to break the siphon, and dispose of the water.

After removing the desired amount of water, you can start adding your fresh water. If you will be adding water from the bucket, rinse it first and use any conditioner while the water is still in the bucket. If you use an auto-filling siphon that connects to your faucet, dissolve the conditioner in a bit of water and add it as soon as the tank is full.

Plug any electrical equipment that you unplugged before.

Just some notes:

-Use a gravel cleaning siphon whenever you do a water change to remove all the trapped particulate from the gravel and also remove dissolved pollutants.

-Although I love to use the auto-filling siphons and so far I have not had any problems, be aware that adding untreated tap water into your tank can lead to disaster. You might prefer to precondition the water before adding it to your system.

-Always use water at room temperature, never use hot water to adjust temperature. Hot water contains a greater quantity of heavy metals like copper and lead. Heavy metals can be removed from tap water by the addition of “slimy” water conditioners. These products contain chemicals that will bind these metals, rendering them harmless. Carbon and certain resins will also remove heavy metals from the water.

-It’s better to do smaller water changes more often than one large water change. Doing this will keep the water quality from changing too drastically.

-You can change the water during cycling. Normal water changes will not affect this process after 2-3 weeks.

-Always allow your tap water to run at least five minutes before using it. This will help decrease the dissolved heavy metal content.

Happy fishes!!

If you want to read more about keeping a fish tank in your home, visit me at http://www.thefishtankplace.com

1-2-3 On how to siphon your aquarium tank

2X Siphon Cleaner - fish tank gravel coral sand plant $37.99

69" Siphon Vacuum Pump For Aquarium Fish Tank Gravel Water Cleaning Change DD3 $0.99

69" Siphon Vacuum Pump For Aquarium Fish Tank Gravel Water Cleaning Change SK2 $0.99

69" Siphon Vacuum Pump For Aquarium Fish Tank Gravel Water Cleaning Change $0.99

10 Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Tubes 4" ID Neck $149.59

10 Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 2.5" Neck Kenworth $149.59

Aquarium Fish Tank Water Pump Gravel Cleaner 6' SIPHON $0.10

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Siphon Pump I $3.53

69" Siphon Vacuum Pump For Aquarium Fish Tank Gravel Water Cleaning Change KG5 $0.99

Siphon Vacuum Pump For Fish Bowl Aquarium Fish Tank 6ft $2.50

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank $3.77

Aquarium Siphon Fish Tank Gravel Water Pump Changer $8.49

69" Siphon Vacuum Pump For Aquarium Fish Tank Gravel Water Cleaning Change FD4 $0.99

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti Siphon Filler Neck 3" D x 7" L $79.99

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank Pool $4.99

Diesel Tank Anti Theft Siphon Volvo Mack International $21.95

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Siphon Pump $2.13

Manual Aquarium Fish Tank Water Cleaner Pump Siphon $5.33

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Water Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank Pool $7.23

Fuel Anti Siphon Device Fits Many with 2" Neck $28.59

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Cleaner Siphon Pump Syphon $7.94

2 Freightliner Fuel Tank Anti Siphon Devices #03-33374-000A 2.5" Opening $9.99

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Water Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank Pool $6.59

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Siphon Pump $51.07

Siphon - for Aquarium Fish Tank Water Change Cleaning $4.66

Siphon- Vacuum Cleaner Pump New live aquarium Fish Tank $4.66

Aquarium Fish Tank Water Pump Gravel Cleaner 6' SIPHON $0.01

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Siphon Pump Useful $2.70

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Water Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank Pool $6.60

Vacuum Fish Tank Water Liquid Transfer Siphon Syphon $3.53

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Water Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank Pool $6.12

Aquarium Siphon Fish Tank Gravel Water Pump Changer $8.49

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank $4.99

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Water Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank Pool $8.94

Siphon Vacuum Pump For Fish Bowl Aquarium Fish Tank $3.29

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Vacuum Water Liquid Oil Fish Tank Siphon Syphon Pump $1.60

Aquarium Fish Tank Water Pump Gravel Cleaner 6' SIPHON $0.01

10 Diesel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 2.25" Neck Freightliner $169.99

AQUARIUM FISH TANK SIPHON LEES AUTOMATIC W/5' HOSE $10.00

Siphon-Water Change for Live Rock Coral saltwater Tank $6.60

Siphon-Water Change for Live Reef Rock saltwater Tank $6.60

3 in 1 Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Siphon Gravel Filter Pump #12 $14.99

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti Theft Siphon For Kenworth & More $21.95

Moen UNIVERSAL FILL VALVE M5350 Universal Fit-All Anti-Siphon toilet repair tank $10.01

RV Holding Tank Fume Extractor - 360 Siphon $5.99

Siphon- Aquarium Water Change for fish Heater Tank $4.70

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Aquarium Fish Tank Water Pump Gravel Cleaner 6' SIPHON $0.01

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Vacuum Cleaner Siphon Suctions Pump Aquarium Tank New $3.33

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Water Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank Pool $6.59

Battery Auto Fish Tank Vacuum Siphon Gravel Pump #10 $13.78

AQUARIUM CLEANER PUMP VACUUM SIPHON FISH Tank biOrb New in Package!! $10.99

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti Theft Siphon Freightliner & More $22.95

Gasoline SIPHON PUMP Transfer gas oil tank to can AQUARIUM Fish Tank water $24.95

2 Freightliner Fuel Tank Anti Siphon Devices #90-03206-01 2.5" Opening $9.99

Original Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump Aquarium Fish Tank $9.99

3 Genuine Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump Aquarium Fish Tank $24.99

Genuine Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump Aquarium Fish Tank $9.99

LIQUID TRANSFER PUMP Fuel Oil Gas Water Siphon tank B/O $13.99

Aquarium Fish Tank Water Pump Gravel Cleaner 6' SIPHON $1.00

1.6M Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Cleaner Siphon Pump AU $1.07

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Siphon Pump $1.00

Manual Aquarium Fish Tank Water Cleaner Pump Siphon $5.33

Aquarium Siphon Fish Tank Gravel Water Pump Changer $8.49

Diesel Tank Anti Theft Siphon for Volvo and Mack $21.95

Diesel Tank Anti Theft Siphon Reefer and International $21.95

1.6m Aquarium Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump for Fish Tank $54.46

Aquarium Fish Tank Water Pump Gravel Cleaner 6' SIPHON $1.58

Kent Moore J-45004-1 Fuel Tank 8' Siphon Hose, H2 Truck $16.95

Safety Super Siphon for Snowmobiles Motorcycles ATV JetSki $9.49

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Device, FTA-P-67 Peterbilt $48.89

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Siphon Pump $54.46

Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Water Pump for Aquarium Fish Tank $4.99

Siphon Vacuum Pump For Fish Bowl Aquarium Fish Tank 6ft $2.55

Aquarium Fish Tank Water Pump Gravel Cleaner 6' SIPHON $0.01

Aquarium Fish Tank Manual Vacuum Cleaner Pump Siphon $4.55

1.6m Aquarium Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump for Fish Tank $51.07

overflow / siphon u tube for fish tank aquarium $6.00

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Cleaner Siphon Pump Syphon $7.94

REINFORCED CONCRETE SPETIC TANK BLUEPRINTS SETTING & SIPHON CHAMBER 5FT DEEP $9.99

Aquarium Fish Tank Vacuum Gravel Cleaner Siphon Pump $51.07

Battery Auto Fish Tank Vacuum Siphon Gravel Pump #10 $13.99

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 2.5" Neck Kenworth $19.32

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 1.875" Neck Reefer MD $19.32

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 2" Neck Freightliner $19.32

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 4" ID Neck $19.32

Diesel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 2.25" Neck Freightliner $19.32

Diesel Fuel Tank Anti-Siphon Tube 2" Neck Kenworth $19.32

1.6m Aquarium Siphon Vacuum Cleaner Pump for Fish Tank $1.00

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Vacuum Cleaner Siphon Suctions Pump 1.75M Aquarium Tank $2.00