Siphons are the workhorse water-change tool. Types: 1) Bucket siphon - 6-25 ft tube + gravel vac head, drains into bucket below tank height. Cheapest at $5-15. 2) Python (or similar) - direct hookup to faucet, sink-driven gravity-feed for water changes. $40-90. Most efficient for tanks 40g+. 3) Battery vac (Eheim Quick Vac, Fluval ProVac) - removes detritus without water removal. $30-80. Good for spot-cleaning. Standard procedure: 1) Fit gravel vac end into tank. 2) Start siphon (tube down + suck once OR squeeze bulb). 3) Push vac head into substrate - mulm + waste lifts up while gravel falls back. 4) Move vac to next spot. 5) When desired water removed, pinch tube to stop. Frequency: weekly with water change. Vacuum 1/3 of substrate each time, rotating over 3 weeks for full coverage. For sand: hover above substrate (don't plunge). For deep sand bed (DSB): never vacuum - disrupts anaerobic layer. For planted tanks: light vacuum - heavy plant root systems hold mulm in place + plants need it. For shrimp tanks: use a fine mesh "shrimp guard" over the tube end to prevent baby shrimp loss.
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