I found a very interesting design that its author claims aids in keeping the substrate clean. Under Water Jets.

I am not sure this would work in my tank (2 Tiguer Oscars, 2 Severums -Green and Gold, 2 Convicts -paired, and soon going to their own tank 2 Kenyi) where all my -initial- effort to provide an even-leveled substrate was unanimously rejected and redone as desired by each inhabitant (the real owners of this tank).

Nevertheless I wanted to consult this idea with you. This designed could be modified (e.g. cover all the PVC with silicon glued sand; using reinforced flexible hose instead of PVC).

I don't mind doing substrate vacuum, but this might be a nice way -if it works as intended- to quickly remove solid waste from the substrate area.

Please check this idea from Marc Elieson, published at cichlid-forum.com at the following link:

www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ug_jets.php

Waiting for your wise comments

Pepe
Santo Domingo

To be quite honest, I don't know whether this would work or not, you would have to construct it to find out. From a personal point of view, I think it's all a waste of time. If you really want to keep your tank clean,Just use sand rather than gravel, and then you won't have any debris working its way underneath and getting stuck. Use a really good external filter that is rated more than your tank and you will not have any problems.

I'm not criticizing these designs that people come up with. I think if you're the sort of person who likes constructing these projects then go for it. The problem is, if you set your tank up and it doesn't meet your expectations, you got to take everything apart again.

I've been keeping Oscars for quite a few years now and in my opinion the only two types of filters that do the job, and don't require you to keep cleaning them all the time are external canister filters, and the sump filter. I have got a large sump filter on my 300 gallon tank, and twop external filters on my 125 gallon tank and they do a grand job.

Hes done a good job building his jets but i think my fish will pull them up as quick as i put them in. It could work but i think more trouble than its worth. i have seen something almost the same before and the owner was also convinced it was a good system??.If you have the stuff laying around try and knock one up but I wouldnt go buy the gear to make it.

marcus wrote:


this is actually a very good point that a lot of people will probably overlook. If you are going to put anything under the substrates, expect it to be exposed at some stage. All Oscars dig big holes in the substrates, I've never had an Oscar that hasn't done it. if you got any little bit so pipe, they're going to rip it out, believe me.

what you have got to remember is Oscars take great pleasure in destroying things, you give them something to break, and they'll do their best to oblige. if an Oscar was a human being, they would probably have several asbo's against them. I've actually seen my Oscars attacking my heater, and an on glass thermometer.

the idea on the web page is actually airly sound for small africans but with o's i dont think it would work as well. now if i remember correctly you are planning on using a sump with your setup. all you need to do is have your return pipe angled to create a flow on the bottom of the tank. this will push the debris into one corner and then place the pick up for your cannister in the same corner. this will help in the removal of much of the waste food and such from your tank. thats how i have mine set up and i only have to vaccum one pail from my tank to get it clean.