Tip: Vacuuming a Biocube

[sen5241b]

You may remember my recent post about my troubles getting rid of the last 10ppm of nitrates. Tonight, I took everything (skimmer, heater, grate, bioballs, pump, chaeto, etc.) out of the three back chambers and used a tank vacuum to clean out the chambers. I've never seen such brown, muddy water come out of a tank! It was disgusting. There wasn't 1 inch of visibility in that water. I could see crud down in there with a flashlight but I did not know there was that much. The back chambers can become one big detritus trap. I do filter all water that goes back there thru a piece of floss. If you own an All-in-1, (RedSea Max, Biocube, Ecocube, etc.) Try vacuuming the back chambers or look in there with a flashlight.

[onux20]

I make sucking out that gunk part of my water change routine. I alternate btwn the skimmer section and the return pump section. So each section get cleaned out once a month. Anyone know exactly what that brown "powder like" stuff is?

 

FWIW I would say most folks would advise you to get rid of the bio balls as they may be the source of your nitrate issue.

Ron

[kngfisher]

not just an issue w/ biocube but all RR tanks in my view. I vac my overflow in my 90.

[jason the filter freak]

What do you vacuum a biocube with?

[sen5241b]

What do you vacuum a biocube with?

 

this

[Origami]

Yep. I vacuumed sludge out of my back chambers just yesterday. It's truly remarkable what settles out back there.