Eheim Gravel Vac Pro

[justin85]

Has any one on here purchased one? And are they worth the money ?

 

[Moby-Krib]

Has any one on here purchased one? And are they worth the money ?

looked at and shuddered at the cost.
I ended up buying a "Tom Mr. Cleaner" cheep
1/4 the cost, I modified the return with floss to do a better job of returning polished water to the tank.
I Also use with a hose attached for close to ground lvl tanks to move water and vac or move water both directions.
Good power for a battery powered impeller pump.

All I bought was an impeller and porting IMO.
Totally happy with my choice.No regrets at all.. I feel the pricey version would have disappointed.

It's a spot cleaner or a reverse pump. nothing worth (as most aquarium supplies are) a high cost for something easier or better done with regular or dyi equipment.

case in point. if you have an algae scraper, Ok, but I recommend you use an old credit card and get your arm wet. Much better results cheaper.

 

[DrRob]

Aye, it looks great, but, as far as I'm aware, you can't get Tom aquatics stuff outside the states, and they sting hard for shipping.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I have the eheim one and i love it. It's a brilliant design and though i haven't had it for long the build of it would seem to lend itself to lasting me a long time. The impeller on it is run by a magnet much like some internal filters, this prevents the motor from burning out from bits getting suck in like you get with other more inexpensive options. The inner workings are totally water-tight again unlike cheaper options which i have also used (like the marina version). It works on deeper tanks than others i have found and of course the biggest perk is being able to clean your substrate without having to do a water change, a big help for tanks with plecos! I like the idea of adding some filter floss to the "poo trap" as my water is a little cloudy after i use it.

Yes it's expensive but for me I needed something like this because my DIY python system doesn't have enough suction to clean the substrate. If you're shopping for one in the UK the best price at the moment is from ZooPlus.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[justin85]

I have the eheim one and i love it. It's a brilliant design and though i haven't had it for long the build of it would seem to lend itself to lasting me a long time. The impeller on it is run by a magnet much like some internal filters, this prevents the motor from burning out from bits getting suck in like you get with other more inexpensive options. The inner workings are totally water-tight again unlike cheaper options which i have also used (like the marina version). It works on deeper tanks than others i have found and of course the biggest perk is being able to clean your substrate without having to do a water change, a big help for tanks with plecos! I like the idea of adding some filter floss to the "poo trap" as my water is a little cloudy after i use it.

Yes it's expensive but for me I needed something like this because my DIY python system doesn't have enough suction to clean the substrate. If you're shopping for one in the UK the best price at the moment is from ZooPlus.

Hope this is helpful!

Thank you verry much, I have heard nothing but good reviews of it. I have cichlids and fine sand = lots of visible mess! This eheim vac would mean I could just clean the substrate without water change, that I do weekly anyway but it seems the sand needs more frequent cleaning.

my next purchase for sure

 

[justin85]

If you're shopping for one in the UK the best price at the moment is from ZooPlus.

Hope this is helpful!

Verry helpful! £40 then as I was checking out I got £5 new customer discount ! So £35 free delivery. £55 everywhere else so bargin.

Thanks for the link to that site.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Yeah i highly recommend them if you have other pets as well

I buy my cat/dog stuff from them in bulk, great savings!

 

[alistairw]

I think I am going to look into this Eheim. I curently have the Marina one, which works well enough, but I am on my second one as AlmostAwesome mentioned, they are not water tight. At knocking on around £20 (40 now) I might as well have purchased the Eheim!

The actual base that you run through the gravel looks a better design too. I am always worried that I am going to suck up a fish (I have actually done this and managed to switch it off before I made mince meat of it!!)due to the large slits in the Marina. The Ehaim seem a lot smaller.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Yes i went through my marina one very quickly after droping it in the tank twice, which come on, it should be able to handle! The overall shape of the eheim is much nicer. Plus you can, depending on the depth of your tank, use an end with no teeth or use the toothed P) one depending on your preference. I actually sawed the teeth off the marina one but i don't mind them on this one (i have sand so you use it a little differently).

 

[justin85]

Yes i went through my marina one very quickly after droping it in the tank twice, which come on, it should be able to handle! The overall shape of the eheim is much nicer. Plus you can, depending on the depth of your tank, use an end with no teeth or use the toothed P) one depending on your preference. I actually sawed the teeth off the marina one but i don't mind them on this one (i have sand so you use it a little differently).

I'm guessing the eheim will suck up sand if you dig it right in ? I to have a marina at the moment, works ok but I can tell its not going to last. With that I don't even use the end attachment just the long tube and make a circular motion above the sand to get the muck to float up.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Yeah it'll suck up the sand and a lot easier than the marina one lol, you basically just do the same though, hover above the sand with it

After i've used it, if i've sucked up a lot of sand i just put it all in a bowl and rinse it out in the tap a few times and put it back in the tank. The little compartment is really easy to empty out, waaaay better than the marina sack thingy lol

 

[justin85]

Yeah it'll suck up the sand and a lot easier than the marina one lol, you basically just do the same though, hover above the sand with it

After i've used it, if i've sucked up a lot of sand i just put it all in a bowl and rinse it out in the tap a few times and put it back in the tank. The little compartment is really easy to empty out, waaaay better than the marina sack thingy lol

I have it ordered now, Think I might get some Filter wool for it might would better than floss. what do you use ?

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Nothing currently but i am going to add something for sure as it deffo needs it, i just noticed someone above said they used it