Gravel Cleaner

[Phase2]

Today was the day that I hate most....cleaning my gravel....obnce a fortnight sucking up the fish pooo until it'll syphon then endless running to the sink to tip it away.....then the return trips with fresh water. What I was thinking was ....has anyone heard of or made a motorised suction pump that will remove the poo but recyle the water back to the tank. Obviously you would need to do water changes but I have adesign in mind but was wondering on whether ones available or if someones already got one they have made up?....answers please

 

[Cian McLiam]

I use the Eheim Sludge remover, its good at getting up the dirt from the bottom of the tank, but fish waste will make a cloud in the water so it may be increasing the bacteria in the water...
anyway, heres the link:Eheim

Ken

 

[MAM]

i have mollies and they are pooping machines. instead of gravel vacuuming every day or every other day i do it once a week, but to keep the waste from ruining the water, i use a turkey baster (my favorite allpurpose tool) and suck out the poo. it doesn't remove more than an inch or so of water, doesn't disturb the gravel/plants/fish much, and only takes a few minutes each day. of course, you're tanks are little bigger and deeper, but if you don't mind sticking your arm part way in the water it should still work for you......
its an inexpensive alternative to the sludge extractor, although if i had a lot of tanks or large tanks, i'd make that investment.

 

[Phase2]

Thanks for the replies and ideas....I may try to get my idea built and I'll let you know how its gone.....

 

[Alien Anna]

I've got just such a device for sale on Ebay at the moment, powered by an air pump. It's an Interpet Air-powered vacuum cleaner.

 

[Fly258]

I use one of these.................
http/www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/acatal...atems__124.html
Regards
Jim

 

[ste2k3]

I use the same as fly258. they are powerfull and you don't lose any water down the drain if you don't want.

 

[Debo]

You could try the Magnum HOT filtration system. You hook up the vac to the filter and it cleans the gravel, clears the water and then puts the clean water back into the tank. It is NO SUBSTITUTE for regular water changes though, but it sounds like a great concept. A friend of mine has one and loves it. I have yet to try it. I have a 50 foot hose with a vac attached and the water runs out the back door into the flower garden!!! With all that waste in the gravel it might as well work as fertilizer for my flowers!!! RECYLE-RECYCLE!!!!
Deb