Using a canister filter as a vacuum

[DaFrog]

My problem - I have a piece on live rock that has detritus and cyano on one side - I can't move the rock as a half-blind firefish hides in one of the holes so am thinking about vacuuming the offending side - Has anybody tried using a canister filter (I am thinking Rena XP1 or Marineland C160) to do so?

Thxs

 

[Ben1]

If the LR is always getting algae growing on it there is a good chance it is packed with detritus. I would get a W/C perpared and use a turkey baster or powerhead like a maxijet to blow all the detritus out of the rock. Then do the water change and get as much out of the system as possible.

You can use the canister also packed with floss to remove some junk then take it off line. I occasionally use a sand vacuum and run the syphon back down into a sump sock and then just remove the sock and wash it in my clothes washer for next time.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you have the canister filter already? If not, why not simply get some clear tubing (home depot, lowes, etc) and create a siphon and use that to suck the stuff off the rock, if it's cyano it will come off no problem, detritus should as well. It won't such off algae that's holding on a bit harder, but it'll get rid of the nasty stuff.