How do you clean/vacuum the bottom debris from the fish tank?

[Bob Vento]

After washing and re-washing the lava rock media for the bottom layer of our grow bed, I have noticed some powdered debris on the bottom of my fish tank. (no fish in there yet, just starting the cycling process)

How do I clean out that debris and would it be harmful to the fish if it remained?

I think I need a vacuum cleaner for my tank.

[Glenn]

I use a regular wet/dry shop vac. with good results.

There are also specific use pond vacuums available. Here is a video demonstrating two. Really, depth is the main concern with these.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2jlRkKwE4M&feature=related 

 

[TCLynx]

Then find dust from the media isn't really a big concern so long as you can still actually see the plastic of the bottom of the fish tank, if you actually have a thick enough layer of the silt to really hide the bottom of the fish tank, then you might want to try to clean it out.