Fishy poo on bottom of tank

[DaveOponic]

My new system is up and running with plants and fish both doing well after three days. At this stage I have three sucker fish in residence and three 15 cm Tilapia.

Previously the fish have been in a concrete pond and they seemed to take a while getting used to the new rather sterile plastic tank.

To make them feel more relaxed, provide extra feed and oxygen and to suck up some of the nitrates, I put some Water hyacinth in the tank. They love the roots of the w.h. and eat it over a few days.

My pump doesn't seem to be sucking up all their waste fast enough. Do I need a stronger pump? Or should I set up some current in the tank? At present I am cleaning up after them like puppies so they don't get poisoned. I siphon it out into a bucket and then pour into the growbed.

Dave

[Outbackozzie]

What size tank? I have found that most tanks under or around 1000l do not require a bottom pickup - just a decent amount of fish to keep the water stirred up.

[Hamish]

I position all my water returns and venturi air pumps pointing in the same clockwise direction so that there is a slight but constant swirl in the tank. DOnt have much issue with stuff on the bottom of the tank other than the odd leaf that falls in the tank. Seems the submersible pump on the bottom must suck most of it up eventually.

[bushboy]

I have a similar dilemma re muck on fish tank floor.

I have my pump "encased" in some mesh (I managed to kill off a few
fingerlings by pumping them through the pump initially) and consequently
there is quite a bit of muck on the bottom of my system.

A siphon suction cleaner won't work as my tank is largely inground
and I don't have any fall to utilise.

Any ideas - do I even need to worry about cleaning the bottom?

thanks

[Murray]

I have a "fish tank broom" and I give the bottom of all the tanks a scrub about once a week....the fish don't seem to mind and it has the effect of stirring up the waste and sending it via the pump to the grow beds.
The Sleepies are the worst....they do giant woopies, and they just lie around. It's hard to get them to move out of the way to sweep the bottom of the tank. The are just like a pet dog...nudge them with the broom and they just move a few inches to one side, very lazy.
I am thinking I might put them into a round tank to see how it goes for them.
The Jades are no problem at all. Their solid waste is very fine and gets picked up by the pump easily....besides they are a very active fish and they keep the water stirred up.

[bushboy]

Thanks Murray - I'll try sweeping a small area as it would really stuff up
the water clarity and might be too toxic for the fish.

[Murray]

Perhaps it might be a bit too much at first BB, but it clears fairly quickly actually. Perhaps do a small area every second day until it is all done.

I find that my Murray tank stays not too bad, I only give it a sweep every fortnight.

[bushboy]

I visited Aquatic Oasis today to see what Stephen had in the way of
tank cleaning equipment. He had some good ideas and the best was a
long handled net with very fine netting - this is what he uses -
scoops gently along the bottom to pick up coarser stuff and stir up fine sediment for the pump.
I've gone with that idea and already have scooped out some sediment/sandy stuff .
The simplest ideas are the best although Murray's broom is pretty basic as well!

[DaveOponic]

What size tank? I have found that most tanks under or around 1000l do not require a bottom pickup - just a decent amount of fish to keep the water stirred up.

Just an update on the poo problem ..... My 1000 litre system is now running nicely and I have 15 Adult Tilapia at around 300 - 500 grams. They haven't stopped reproducing and today discovered litter no. 5 has arrived. I estimate the tank now houses over 200 fish!

Needless to say with all these fish scooting around, not much poo settles and mostly the tank is clear.

Tilapia are a very active fish and make their own current everytime you walk near the tank.

[Outbackozzie]

Thats the best way to keep a tank clean.