Syphonning on densely planted sand and earthworm casting

I've been using the flourite sand for a bit. If you can't get to it to siphon it, you can run a siphon over the top to catch anything you can and then repeatedly jab a stick into the sand. This should break things up a big and bring some gunk out.

If your plants are doing well, they'll pump their own O2 down into the soil, so it's unlikely that the roots will rot unless there's something out of whack causing poor growth. Jabbing the stick in will help release any hydrogen sulfide or other nastiness if you do have any problems though.

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S

 

A Funnel

Hi Jonny,

My solution is to cut off a standard plastic kitchen funnel either into a tube or on to the end of whatever gravel vacuum you may be using. Scalloping the edge of the funnel and/or drilling holes in the funnel can adjust amount of suction desired.

Another solution is a variation on S’s, with your hand or a (new) paint stirrer fan the area below and ahead of the gravel vacuum.

Biollante