Anyone use a battery gravel vacuum?

[Dsmdan95]

I'm tired of sucking up water.. tried differant siphons even ones with a sqeeze pump. I,m thinking about getting one of these.

http://www.petco.com/product/100026/EHE ... ce#details

Anyone have one or know anything about them ? I would use it to vaccum the gravel and then I'd remove the plants to clean them. Then I have a pump to remove / replace the water for water changes.

[pufferpuggirl]

In my experience, those battery gravel cleaners just don't do a very good job, especially as they are so expensive. I've found that the ones that are air-powered (driven by an air pump) work much better, they've got more suction and there's no batteries to worry about.

Let me just say that I went through 3 of those battery-powered ones in a very short amount of time. They stop working easily enough and if you go too deep with them, then you ruin them.

I'd look for one of the air-powered types, very easy to use and does a better job. I vacuum all my tanks every morning to get rid of any uneaten food and fish waste, and it works really well.

[Dsmdan95]

What do you mean by a air pump one??

[pufferpuggirl]

You know, like what you use to put air bubbles into a tank? They make vacuums that hook up to an air pump via an airline and they suck up debris and uneaten food, etc.

[diverchic]

oooh, what type do you use? I could do with one of those!

[pufferpuggirl]

I got mine off eBay, do a search for "vacuum tank cleaner" -- that should bring some up for you. The one I use is an 'Algarde' it's all one piece. There's another out there that's 2 pieces and I've tried that one, but it doesn't work too well.

[diverchic]

hmmmm, I'm currently just doing 50% water change with a siphon gravel attachment and, looking at the vacuums, I think I can hook that up to the filter each day to give a quick clean between water changes. I'm assuming this won't mean that the filter clogs up quicker though... any thoughts?

I'm in no way engineeringly inclined so don't know much about if it is possible to have too much go through them LOL

[pufferpuggirl]

This one that I use hooks up to your air pump via an air hose, and as it sucks up the muck (whatever), it dumps into a little bag that comes with the vacuum. Then you just empty the little bag. It doesn't take any water out, just the stuff you suck up. I do all my tanks every morning, whether I'm doing a water change that day or not. I find it keeps the nitrites down if you can get all the leftover food and waste out ASAP.

[Dadof4]

I made one out of an old used Mag 18, some tubing and an old canister. Cost me about $20 and will suck the color right out of the gravel.

[Nick]

Python. Worth every penny.

[pufferpuggirl]

Unfortunately, the Python is only available in the US, we don't have it here in the UK yet!

[diverchic]

I've got one of the Underworld ones on order - should get it next week

[Dadof4]

Unfortunately, the Python is only available in the US, we don't have it here in the UK yet!

12 mm vinyl tubing works well in place of a Python.

[Dsmdan95]

Well I decided to bite the worm and get one. I've had one for a while now and I must say this thing is Great! I got a Eheim one which was pretty expensive ($60 USD) but worth every penny. Back when I had a just a normal vacs that I would have to suck on to get it to start, I have to drain mores 50% of the tank and the tank was still dirty! This is great for in-between water changes or during them. I use it to clean everything thing then use a pump to take out and add water. I highly recommend this to anyone with a tank big or small. The only problem is you have to close your eyes and fork over the money but you won't regret it. lol

[pufferpuggirl]

I still think the ones that are run by an air pump work better, and are less money -- but that's just my opinion. The battery-powered ones just seem to lose their oomph before long.