Re: Help for my comet please
#28
It's hard to explain in words how to vacuum gravel. Usually the siphon will have a larger, rigid tube (a little like an upside-down funnel) connected to a length of flexible pipe. Start a flow of water through the siphon. This can be done either by using the 'pump start' that some siphons come with, or by filling the siphon with water, putting the end of the pipe in a bucket below the tank, and lifting the large end of the siphon up. This causes the water in it to flow downwards to the bucket - if you quickly plunge the large end back into the tank, the water will keep flowing. Practise in the sink with a bucket below it and you'll quickly get the hang of it.
Once you have the water flowing, dig the large end of the siphon into the gravel - the force of the flow will lift the gravel and tumble it. The dirt, being light, will flow out with the water, and the gravel will fall back. Keep moving over the gravel until you have done as much cleaning, or removed as much water, as you need. Keep an eye on the water level in the bucket while you're doing it or it will be overflowing on to the carpet!
I always find it useful to partially kink the pipe, and keep my hand over the kink so I can close it instantly if necessary - this enables me to stop the flow quickly if one of the fish comes near the end of the siphon. The flow is usually not too strong and the fish would probably be OK, but there is a chance it could get hurt. Many siphons come with taps etc, but these can't be closed instantly.
I also don't think salt is the best way to treat whitespot. I understand that, in the wild, many whitespot strains are found in quite brackish areas, so would not be affected. One of the things to remember about whitespot is that infected fish develop a strong natural immunity - an outbreak may appear to have cleared due to treatment, but is actually being kept in check by the fish's immune systems.
Consultant, Mars Fishcare.