Problem with HOB filter suction strength.

[Stinson]

I have a rougly 42liter tank running on a HOB filter rated at 1000L/Hour.
Using CR media and polish pad.Water is super clean and seem like current is very strong for all fish.I have extend the suction pipe down to the substrate level but still..the shit and dirt are not getting suck in.

Shit should be very light right?So technically it should be like my fishes getting fly around by the current but it doesnt seem so..the substrate floor doesnt even seem to move.I do not want to add a power head since it will look kinda ugly.

So looking for help here.Anyone got any idea?

[Urban Aquaria]

The waste and poop is moved around in the tank primarily by the outflow current, the intake suction doesn't have much effect if the waste material settles a distance away from it and just accumulates at a dead spot.

You'll need to create more circulation and flow in the tank to effectively push the waste material closer towards the intake pipe so that it can draw it in.

One method is to use an even stronger HOB filter, but due to the downward flow of HOB filters, it'll tend to just create a lot of flow in one spot while leaving many other areas with low or no flow, so an alternative could be to use 2 or more smaller HOB filters, then the multiple outflows can help cover more areas.

The hardscape and plant layout also matters too, anywhere where there is blockage of flow, most of the waste material will tend to settle there.

If you have a planted tank with lots of plants in the soil substrate, then it's okay to allow some dirt and waste to settle on the substrate as the beneficial bacteria there will convert it to nutrients that the plants can use.

[Stinson]

Thanks for the prompt reply.
I do not have much plant mass in the tank.The problem is the shit and dirt are all use under or beside the suction pipe and non are getting suck in.It's like they are weight down.

If all is soil substrate I still do not worry,the problem is most of my tank are cover with white sand which make the shit very unsightly.

[Stinson]

Thanks for the prompt reply.
I do not have much plant mass in the tank.The problem is the shit and dirt are all use under or beside the suction pipe and non are getting suck in.It's like they are weight down.

If all is soil substrate I still do not worry,the problem is most of my tank are cover with white sand which make the shit very unsightly.

[BFG]

Then you might need a gravel cleaner type thingy. Or if you have a spare small canister filter lying around, use that as a vacuum cleaner for your sand. Stuff the filter with cotton wool and place the output hose back into your tank.

[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, for those waste material that accumulate near the intake, they are basically the ones that are light enough to be pushed there but too heavy to be drawn into the intake. Those have to be manually removed with a gravel vaccum or pipette.

For sand substrate its actually much easier to clear the waste material, since they sit on top of the sand (rather then get trapped under soil or gravel), so just hover the gravel vaccum or pipette 2-3cm above the sand surface and suck up all the bits of waste as part of regular weekly maintanence.

Another method is to just swish the water in the area around the intake pipe to lift up the dirt so that it sucks them in, though have to be careful not to also kick up the sand and end up sand grains also get sucked into the filter.

White sand looks nice but is tough to keep clean, any bits of waste will show up very easily and eventually the top layer will gradually become brown too, so it'll constantly need maintanence to be kept pristine.

[Stinson]

Well..Thanks for all your input.Getting another filter is out of question since i want to keep it simple.Seems like i have to use vaccum to suck the dirts and shit up then.

Regret getting them goldfish.

[BFG]

The filter I mention is not to be used on a regular basis. Activate it when the sand looks terrible. Keep the canister when not in use. Kinda like an actual vacuum cleaner, you don't use it 24/7, use it when necessary. Get it?!?