Gravel Vacuuming Without Changing Water

[Cheffi]

I'd like to vacuum my sand in between water changes. Messy Malawi

My tank is quite deep 27" and the one I have is attached to my Python which I use for water changes. Does anyone have such a thing as a battery operated or rechargeable vac which they can recommend? Thanks.

 

[gizmo001i]

Hiya Cheffi,
If you don't want to spend too much and you have an air pump, you could buy one of the air driven gravel vacs. They work buy pumping air into the central tube at the bottom. As the air rises it pulls the water up with it, which then passes through a mesh back. Any debris is caught by the bag whilst the water returns to the tank. With a control valve on the air pump, you can control the amount of air going to the vac and hence the amount of water flowing through the vac. This way, you can control the flow to allow the debris to be sucked up, but the gravel to fall back to the bottom of the tank. These are cheap and easy to use. You can find one on this page http/www.fishandfins.co.uk/misc.htm under Aquarium Power Cleaner. Hope this helps.
Ian

 

[Cheffi]

Hiya Cheffi,
If you don't want to spend too much and you have an air pump, you could buy one of the air driven gravel vacs. They work buy pumping air into the central tube at the bottom. As the air rises it pulls the water up with it, which then passes through a mesh back. Any debris is caught by the bag whilst the water returns to the tank. With a control valve on the air pump, you can control the amount of air going to the vac and hence the amount of water flowing through the vac. This way, you can control the flow to allow the debris to be sucked up, but the gravel to fall back to the bottom of the tank. These are cheap and easy to use. You can find one on this page http/www.fishandfins.co.uk/misc.htm under Aquarium Power Cleaner. Hope this helps.
Ian

Thanks for that info. I need something to poke around in the rocks, looking at the tank from above I can see several places which are becoming a bit soiled with food and poo. I have seen a few battery operated vac's which look interesting. Anyone got any of them to recommend or slate?

 

[anvil63]

I've used a couple over the years (long time ago -sorry don't remember the brands) and was never very pleased with them. I did jury rig a HOT Magnum 250 to be used as a dedicated gravel vac. That worked pretty well, but honestly not as well as using the regular old python.

Carl

 

[discusmad]

http/www.swelluk.com/marine/cleaning-equ...ry-vac-148.html

i have one of these, and i wouldnt be without it

 

[Cheffi]

http/www.swelluk.com/marine/cleaning-equ...ry-vac-148.html

i have one of these, and i wouldnt be without it

Looks very interesting. Does the filter part ever need replacing?

 

[discusmad]

nope, just cleaning after use 8)

 

[Cheffi]

nope, just cleaning after use 8)

Thanks I think I'll get one of those.