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I know with UGF's, breaking down the tank was suppose to be an annual ritual.

But, with power filters, cannister filters and so on, how often do you break down your tank?

How long have you had a tank run without breaking it down? Did it stay a healthy tank?

How about planted tanks - what is your longest running tank without breaking it down?

Mine is two years old and I'm contemplating a breakdown of it in the spring to replace the substrate. I have gravel and some flourite and want to switch over to all Eco-Complete, then plant it well. I'd save the filter and all of that.

Hi,
In a properly maintained tank, there is virtually no reason
to tear a tank apart. Even tanks with Under Gravel Filters
do not need this done.

With today's equipment, such as the Python, all one needs
to do is section off the exposed substrate, and while
changing the water during normal maintenance, drive the
Python head through the gravel to the plate and that will
clean the gravel within the head perfectly. Simply make
cookie cutter insertions, over lapping, throughout a section
of the tank. Clean a different section of exposed substrate
each quarter.

If you are changing substrates, then while you have the tank
"torn apart" you might as well clean everything. But that
is the only reason to it. Just about every disease that
can occur within a tank can be eradicated with medication,
and only a 50% water change at most will dilute the
medication enough so that future normal water changes
will remove the remainder.

My current tank is 12 years old, and the only thing I do
is regular maintenance, including the "python thing."
My earlier tanks were set up for 13 years, and preceeding
that, they were set up for 4 to 6 years at a time (time
between transfers in the navy).
There is no "real" reason to tear a tank down.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hey Frank, as always, I enjoy reading your posts. Thanks for sharing your experience. I have always wondered that about UGFs. I know that people who almost persuaded me to set one up said never to go down to the grate. But in sections, it makes sense. I would think it would pull stuff out of there. I know they make these reverse flow kits too now. I do go right to the glass on my 20 long, even removing decco in that section of my tank. I like to get it all good.

I really don't want to tear it down, yet i think I made a mistake putting the flourite in the 20. All of my active habrosus have lost their barbels completely. One habrosus cory was in the tank early on and had long barbels before the flourite. Now, some 6 months later, I see the toll. They have gone through medicated food to make sure it was not bacterial and there was no effect. Only once did I have a nitrate problem, but even then, nitrates would need to be chronically high to cause the kind of erosion. They get very good, high protein foods, so the only thing left is the flourite.

I have one other trio of cory species, but they are sedentary much of the time and like it that way. The habrosus on the other hand are on the move, day and night, with only a short nap here and there. They really nuzzle into that flourite.

So, that is the primary reason why I want to change the substrate. Secondary to that is aquascaping. I'm thinking it would be kind of nice to start all over again. I wish I had another wall, I'd just set up a new, slightly bigger tank and transfer everyone.

Cory_Di

The last tank was broken down after about 10 years reason it cracked from old age. It had a UGF and a full back drop (4 Ft X 4ins X 12ins with filter wool ar rear of tank)

Now I am using full UGF plus the large Eheim. I syphon 50lt weekly with a syphon tube the full length of the front.

I am no hurry may be in about 8 years time.

Here are more details about my tank.
Have a look in My Profile for my tank info



Keith

Last edited by keithgh at 22-Jan-2005 22:47

Last edited by keithgh at 22-Jan-2005 22:48

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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I've never broken a tank completely down. I have switched substrates a couple times, but never just a complete tear down and start over. My longest running tank would be my 29 gallon which has been going for about 6-7 yrs. now.

My one 55g hasnt been broken down for 15 years.

The UGF works fine.

Breaking down a tank is just an excuse to kill your fish IMHO.

Wow - I love these long running tank posts .

I wonder who has the record on FP.

I've never broken down a tank. The longest running unplanted is about twelve years old, and the longest running planted about five or so.

Have to say, though - I've had several species of cories including habrosus on my Fluorite and never had any problems. I'd test for nitrates right at the bottom of the tank before looking at the substrate. It brings to mind that old comparison - how much pressure does it take to cut yourself with a sharp knife? A dull one? How about a piece of Fluorite? Do you really think a 1" cory has that kind of power when he dives into the substrate?

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

- I'm thinking more of like a sanding type motion - back and forth over and again. Mini-me had no problems and actually grew barbels in my 20 long before the flourite went in. I'm trying to get a pic of her now in contrast to when she had first grown those nice long barbels. The nitrate was up for only a short time - a week maybe, and it was round 40ppm, which is unusual for my tanks. I like to keep them between 5-15. Its awful looking at those barbel-less faces.

I may pull them out into the 5 gallon quarantine they lived in when they first came. I can set it up all nice with the caves and fake plants and a smooth substrate. Then, I would feed them the medicated food again to make sure it is not bacterial. I can better control what they eat in a contained environment. I did lose one last week. No symptoms other than rapid breathing and bug-eyes. Color was great and fins were erect, not clamped, right to the end. No external signs, other than no barbels. I don't believe it was pop-eye, but rather dropsy that pushed the eyes out.


Last edited by Cory_Di at 23-Jan-2005 12:32

I wonder who has the record on FP.

I would say Gary would be pretty far up there.

I will make a post to see who has the oldest running tanks, and the oldest fish.

This could be interesting

I must be different. I give my tank (a 4 foot) a break down every year. But then it does get really hot here and the live plants I have just disintagrate and well gotta get rid of it all. I have an UGF in this one. But during the year I will empty majority of the water out to clean the glass and that.