Why and how to siphon the soil in an aquarium. The meaning of the procedure, features, methods of implementation

If you have a strong interest in maintaining an aquarium, you understand how crucial it is to give your fish and plants a clean and healthy habitat. Siphoning the substrate, or the sand and gravel at the bottom of your tank, is an important component of this maintenance. Although it may seem tedious, this procedure is essential to the health of your aquarium.

Why then is siphoning so crucial? Fish waste, food scraps, and decomposing plant material can accumulate in the substrate over time. This accumulation can result in low water quality, which can damage aquatic life and create algae issues. Siphoning keeps the substrate hygienic and clean while assisting in the removal of these undesirable materials.

However, what is the actual process for siphoning the substrate in your aquarium? Although it’s a fairly easy process, there are a few tricks to make sure you do it right and don’t overstress your tank. Understanding the fundamentals will have a significant impact on the health of your aquarium, from selecting the appropriate equipment to knowing how frequently to complete this task.

We’ll go over why siphoning is important, how to do it correctly, and what tools you might need in the sections that follow. Learning this method will help you maintain the best possible aquatic environment for your aquarium, regardless of experience level.

Why Siphon Aquarium Soil? How to Siphon Aquarium Soil?
Removes excess waste and debris that can pollute the water. 1. Prepare a siphon tube or gravel vacuum.
Prevents buildup of harmful substances that could harm fish and plants. 2. Submerge the tube in the tank and start the siphon action.
Maintains overall tank cleanliness and water quality. 3. Move the vacuum gently across the soil to suck up debris.
Helps to avoid algae problems and maintain a healthy environment. 4. Be careful not to remove too much substrate or disturb plants.
Improves oxygen flow in the substrate, benefiting plant roots. 5. Clean the siphon equipment after use and replace water lost during the process.

Methods for cleaning the soil

The soil is cleaned using two primary techniques:

  1. using a dirt suction device (or siphon);
  2. removing the soil from the aquarium and placing it in a specially selected container, followed by rinsing under running water.

Since the first cleaning option requires less labor and takes less time, it is typically used. By splitting the bottom area into sections and processing one or two each day, you can extend the process over a few days.

More effectiveness is needed when cleaning with soil removal because the fish are temporarily relocated and are in unfamiliar surroundings. They work quickly to finish the cleaning process because they fear this could cause serious harm to the aquarium’s occupants.

In order to maintain the cleanliness of your tank and the health of your fish, it is essential to siphon the soil in your aquarium. This is done by eliminating any uneaten food, excess waste, and dangerous debris that may accumulate in the substrate. This process not only helps to maintain the quality of the water, but it also stops issues like poor oxygenation and the growth of algae. This post will discuss the benefits of siphoning, how to do it successfully, and strategies for streamlining the procedure in order to maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

How an aquarium siphon works

An aquarium’s dirt pump, cleaner, or siphon is a device made up of multiple parts:

  • a transparent tube or funnel;
  • a flexible hose (rubber or PVC);
  • a pump with an electric or mechanical drive.

In any case, the basic working principle is the same: a transparent funnel is placed on the ground, water and impurities enter it, and then the water travels through a flexible hose to a special trap, which is a small reservoir right after the pump.

The water either immediately returns to the aquarium after passing through a mesh filter or enters a different container from which it is filtered and then returned.

Although mechanical siphons are less expensive, cleaning with them requires more work because you have to manually run the pump and filter the water that is released before putting it back in the aquarium. Although they cost a little bit more, siphons with an electric motor are easier to operate.

Generally speaking, owners of relatively small aquariums prefer mechanical equipment, while those with larger tanks that need extensive processing opt for electric equipment. Simultaneously, the walls’ height is restricted; if they rise higher than 50 cm, water may be poured into the siphon’s battery compartment.

Furthermore, you must consider the glass’s (funnel’s) height. Selecting models with a suction part height of at least 20 cm is advised. Subsequently, sizable soil fragments will sink to the bottom and not enter the hose or container containing water or filtrate. This is a crucial detail because if it isn’t, the soil will get less with each cleaning and need to be replenished more frequently.

To manage the cleaning process and halt it on schedule, siphons with a transparent tube (funnel) are required.

How to clean

Use siphon a few weeks following the aquarium’s opening, not before. First of all, there won’t be any purpose to the process because the organic matter and feed remnants won’t have had time to build up. Second, it is not practical to disturb the aquarium’s inhabitants as they are just establishing themselves in a new location.

Along with getting rid of extra organic materials that have landed on the ground, cleaning also involves getting rid of some water. While some people enter it more easily and add clean water to the desired level, others filter it and then return it.

Cleaning process:

  1. Prepare a siphon, water container (a regular bucket is suitable).
  2. Fill a siphon pipe with water and immerse it in the aquarium. The free end should be lowered below the bottom level, otherwise the water will not go by gravity (if the electrical model of the siphon is used, this condition is not necessary).
  3. It is recommended to divide the bottom area into squares in advance so that the cleaning is as thorough as possible. This is especially true for large aquariums.
  4. The tube gently stirs the soil, raising the turbidity. It is recommended to immerse it to the very bottom (to the glass) in order to siphon the entire backfill layer and remove organic matter with maximum efficiency.
  5. Heavier particles of soil will settle to the bottom, and organic matter and fine suspended matter will be picked up by the water flow and discharged into the prepared container.
  6. The process is controlled by observing the state of the flow. As soon as the water in the tube becomes transparent, the procedure is transferred to the next section of the bottom (or stopped altogether).

The tube’s diameter increases with the siphon’s power. It is not desirable for the soil to be sucked in if the water evaporates too quickly. The procedure must be set up so that the backfill layer stays on the bottom and only organic matter and suspended matter are removed.

Pros and cons of using a siphon for an aquarium

Using a siphon to clean the soil has several benefits.

  • the ability to remove rotting organic particles;
  • the danger of acidification of the substrate, into which oxygen does not enter, is eliminated;
  • the bad smell is eliminated, harmful gases are not released from the soil.

Drawbacks:

  • the number of bacteria living in the upper layers of the substrate decreases, which leads to a decrease in the ability to biofilter;
  • nutrients are removed from the soil, which worsens the conditions for keeping plants;
  • there is a risk of damaging the roots of aquatic plants.

You must consider all the benefits and drawbacks before selecting a cleaning technique for an aquarium in order to prevent upsetting the ecosystem or making the living conditions of fish and other creatures worse.

Which soil needs cleaning more

Mostly, unplanted soil needs to be cleaned. It is advised to siphon it once a month (you can do this twice a month, or even three or four times a week, in small aquariums). This will keep the phosphate and nitrate concentrations at a safe level.

Herbalists siphon off as little as once a year, if not less frequently. The truth is that an ecosystem consisting of plants has a closed consumption cycle. The organic matter settles and decomposes, creating a nutrient medium for plants that doesn’t need to be cleaned frequently. To avoid damaging the roots, it is advised to clean using a unique metal tube with a flattened working end.

A siphon cannot be used for cleaning when nutrient soils are utilized as the soil. The granules’ nutrients will be extracted during the cleaning process, and silt containing beneficial materials will be eliminated. Even before they are put in the aquarium, the soils are not cleaned in any way. By doing this, you can maintain the soil’s usable characteristics even though its service life is already fairly short—it is generally acknowledged that soils have a service life of no more than 1.5 to 2 years.

In cases where siphoning is impractical due to the increasing amount of organic matter in the soil, adding shrimp or snails—which can demolish excess waste and silt—is advised.

Making a siphon with your own hands

A standard mechanical siphon costs between 500 and 700 ₽. Although aquarists can afford this, many would rather build their own siphons rather than waste time looking for or waiting for the device to be delivered from online retailers.

What you’ll need for a homemade siphon is:

A 0.5-liter empty plastic bottle with a transparent lid is preferred.

A 50–60 cm length of rigid plastic hose.

1.5–2 meters of flexible hose with a 10 mm diameter.

The following actions are necessary to create a siphon:

  1. Cut the plastic bottle so that a funnel of the desired diameter is formed. For more active suction of water, the edges can be made serrated.
  2. A hole is made in the lid for connection to a hard tube. An adapter is installed on the free end for connecting a flexible hose.
  3. All connections are sealed with electrical tape (you can use silicone sealant).

The creation of the most basic siphon can now be deemed finished.

Frequently asked questions

Let’s look at some of the common queries that new aquarists have about how to use a siphon to clean the soil:

Hands should not be on the driftwood. It is advised to use an attachment on the funnel with a curved and thinner tube if access to certain areas is difficult.

No, the fish in the aquarium don’t need to be removed, but you still need to take precautions to keep them from getting inside the funnel.

Not less than 14 days following launch (in actuality, this window is frequently extended to a month or longer).

Reducing the number of fish and adding plants with strong root systems to the aquarium can help lessen the frequency of cleaning. You can get by without using a siphon altogether in certain situations.

By altering the funnel’s diameter, you can boost the suction. The force of water suction increases with its size. To prevent the funnel from starting to suck in the dirt, you shouldn’t shrink it too much.

Rotten plant roots suggest that the area needs to be cleaned. You can also test by submerging a stick in the soil. It is time to siphon the aquarium if gas bubbles emerge from it.

Using a siphon to clean the aquarium lets you get rid of food residue and waste materials that have landed on the ground quickly and without any special preparation. You don’t need complicated equipment for this easy process—you can even make a siphon on your own.

You should be aware of certain contraindications beforehand, such as cleaning soils or using a siphon in herbalists. If the process is carried out correctly, you can create a cozy home for the fish and get rid of the aquarium’s odor.

An essential part of keeping your aquarium’s aquatic ecosystem robust and healthy is siphoning the soil. You can help avoid the accumulation of dangerous materials that could affect the health of your fish and plants by getting rid of extra waste, uneaten food, and other debris that sinks to the bottom. Frequent siphoning helps maintain a more vibrant and well-balanced ecosystem by keeping your aquarium clean and the water quality high.

You must be aware of the fundamental methods in order to complete this task efficiently. Move the device gently through the substrate with a gravel vacuum or siphon to allow the waste to be sucked up while the gravel stays in place. Working in segments is a smart idea to prevent upsetting the tank as a whole at once. Siphoning should be done during water changes to help maintain the proper water levels and quality at the same time.

Regular siphoning keeps the tank clean and fosters a healthier environment for your aquatic life. It is an integral part of your maintenance regimen. Cleaner water will benefit your fish, and plants will grow more readily in the absence of too much debris in the way. You can make sure that your aquarium is a lovely, well-balanced habitat for many years to come with a little work on your part.

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Elena Grishina

Ecologist and aquarist with a special interest in creating balanced ecosystems in aquariums. Main focus — ecosystems that require minimal human intervention. I support a natural approach to aquarium care, where each element plays its role, helping to maintain harmony in a closed ecosystem. I promote sustainable aquarium keeping and respect for nature.

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