DIY powered gravel vacuum

[NikkiY]

I always wanted to get one of those battery powered gravel vacuum. Since I haven't seen one in action (I am concerned about its suction power))and I hate to keep buying battery for it, I ended up making one myself. It was very easy to do if you alreayd have a power filter. The idea is to connect the hose of your normal gravel vacuum to the siphon of the power filter. Depending on your hose, you will need to get some plastic fittings fit them together.

Even with my not perfect setup, I have enough suction to vacuum off the dirt from the gravel. Are there any other DIY powered gravel vacuum design out there? I would like to improve my design.

Nikki

 

[The Mohave Kid]

Thats funny ... just seen a cartridge system ... magnum ... that has an attchment for cleaning gravel ...

How is your system set up ??

I think the down side would be all that debris in your filter ... perhaps a in line filter attachment that can be emptied after cleaning the gravel ??

Good Day ... B)

 

[DannyBoy17]

Thats funny ... just seen a cartridge system ... magnum ... that has an attchment for cleaning gravel ...

How is your system set up ??

I think the down side would be all that debris in your filter ... perhaps a in line filter attachment that can be emptied after cleaning the gravel ??

Good Day ... B)

Thats what filters are for. If extra debris clogs it, you dont have a quality filter.
I would just as some filter floss to the filter being used.

DB

 

[NikkiY]

That is the H.O.T. Magnum filter made by Marineland. It's flow rate is actually the same as my AquaClear power filter (270gph). I have no problem with the debris going into the filter since it can be rinsed off quite easily. Right now I connect a normal gravel vacuum to the siphon hose. At the moment, the suction I get is okay but it will take a very long time to clean the tank. The problem is due to my gravel vacuum. The soft tube is too long and large (1/2"). Additionally, the siphone tube (mine is a Marina) is too large. To fix this problem, I will connect a smaller diameter gravel vacuum directly to the impeller housing. I think this should give me enough suction.

Nikki

 

[Salt Freak]

Personally I think that tose are junk. when you think you are getting out of the system you are pulling stuff out which causes the nitrAte to go up. In order to get rid of the nitrAtes you need to replace the water. in which those things don't do.

 

[NikkiY]

Personally I think that tose are junk. when you think you are getting out of the system you are pulling stuff out which causes the nitrAte to go up. In order to get rid of the nitrAtes you need to replace the water. in which those things don't do.

You brought up a very good point about the water change. Anyway, I don't think water change can be avoided no matter how much debris I vacuum off the tank bottom using the power filter. A conventional gravel vacuum cleans the gravel and removes water the same time. This would be fine for me if I am able to throughoutly clean the tank bottom before the gravel vacuum siphon off too much water. The value to vacuum the gravel without removing the water is simply to give me ample time to clean the gravel. I think this is beneficial to some of the fishkeepers like us. After the gravel is cleaned, the filter can be cleaned and the water can be changed. The end result is the same. Why don't you give this a try too. I think you might actually enjoy this

Nikki

 

[Salt Freak]

true but i can't really try but i never had i problem with it but all my tanks are saltwater and have sand aka aragonite in them. thats a very good point.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

wow, great idea, i was thinking about doing something like this, but i didnt know how to attach the tube

 

[NikkiY]

wow, great idea, i was thinking about doing something like this, but i didnt know how to attach the tube

You will need to get some type of fittings between your normal gravel vacuum hose and the siphone tube of your power filter. The best is to take that both to your hardware store to see what will fit.

I now have two basic designs. One uses the power filter and the other uses a power head (If I have a canister filter, I would have 3 designs ). Once I have the time and gotten all the parts I need, I will post my results here too. Make sure you track this post

Nikki

 

[Dorkhedeos]

im going to try it this weekend, if i suck some sand up, wouldnt it be caught in the filter though?

 

[NikkiY]

im going to try it this weekend, if i suck some sand up, wouldnt it be caught in the filter though?

Yes, I would think so. If you are careful I don't think that would not be a problem at all. What kind of filter are you using? Please post your result.

Nikki

 

[Dorkhedeos]

im using a top fin 10, i hope its enough suction. would putting the valve at the top of the intake be more effective?

 

[NikkiY]

im using a top fin 10, i hope its enough suction. would putting the valve at the top of the intake be more effective?

I never seen the Topfin 10. What is the manufacturer website? The idea is to keep the hose as close to the intake as possible. The length of the gravel vacuum hose should not be too long or there will be too much pressure lost. You shoud also make sure the tube is filled with water first before you turn it on. It is not good to run the filter dry.

Nikki

 

[NikkiY]

im using a top fin 10, i hope its enough suction. would putting the valve at the top of the intake be more effective?

I found your filter at PetsMart. I am not sure if your filter is strong enough bec. it is for a 10gal tank which means around 40gph flow rate. You will have to try to see if it is powerful enough.

Nikki

 

[Dorkhedeos]

odd, it says 80 gph on the box

Edit: i might just use a 3/16 tube