Which Gravel Cleaner

[IAmATeaf]

Need to get a gravel cleaner/siphon so am wondering if anybody has any recommendations? I've sort of been attracted to the battery powered ones that also siphon but can't seem to find any reviews of them or should I just go for a manual with pump start?

 

[Ben M]

i just use a normal siphon, i did try an electric one, but it had really weak suction so it hardly picked up any rubbish. having said that, i might have just got a rubbish one...

cheers

 

[IAmATeaf]

Anybody else have any comments?

 

[thedc5]

I got a battery one from Pets at home the other week, ive got a 6 foot with Sand substrate and although I had to extend the pipe to reach the bottom its fine for a quick 5 min poo pickup! I do it daily as my fish are so messy! and it means no loss of water when your cleaning, i do my water changes using a power head and hose so no buckets.

 

[IAmATeaf]

I got a battery one from Pets at home the other week, ive got a 6 foot with Sand substrate and although I had to extend the pipe to reach the bottom its fine for a quick 5 min poo pickup! I do it daily as my fish are so messy! and it means no loss of water when your cleaning, i do my water changes using a power head and hose so no buckets.

Do you have a type or model number, been looking on the bay and there are so many different types that it's hurting my head

 

[thedc5]

this is what i got but i picked it up in Pets at Home, only because if it was crap i new it would be easier to take back!! but its ok, like I said I have extended the pipe but it still works fine.

http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/hagen-marina-multivac-battery-powered-vacuum-p-1685.html

 

[IAmATeaf]

I've just gone up picked up what looks like a similar unit from Argos for a tenner. Haven't used it yet so will post back when I have, can always return it if it turns out to be crap but it is excluded from Argos's normal 30 day returns policy.

 

[thedc5]

I've just gone up picked up what looks like a similar unit from Argos for a tenner. Haven't used it yet so will post back when I have, can always return it if it turns out to be crap but it is excluded from Argos's normal 30 day returns policy.

if its excluded that normally means you cant return them?

 

[chrisbassist]

usually statutory rights aren't affected.

meaning as long as you have reciept and there is a problem with the unit (not just that you changed your mind) you can still take it back.

 

[IAmATeaf]

I've just gone up picked up what looks like a similar unit from Argos for a tenner. Haven't used it yet so will post back when I have, can always return it if it turns out to be crap but it is excluded from Argos's normal 30 day returns policy.

if its excluded that normally means you cant return them?

If it's not fit for purpose i.e. there's little sucky-sucky and it doesn't hoover up the dirt then that would be my only reason for returning it.

 

[IAmATeaf]

Just a quick update in case it helps others but -

What a waste of time this gravel cleaner is, it's made by Pennings or distributed by them, same people who are sending out dodgy lights for the Aldi/Lidl ? tanks that I've read about in another thread here.

I've now on my second as the first broke when putting the thing together. The second has now broken in exactly the same place where the tube is pushed into the main black plastic body. It also stops siphoning after the first bucket full, nothing you do will then get the siphoning started. The thing also leaks from every joint. On a positive note it does manage to vacuum the dirt but overall it's just rubbish.

Although it exempt from being returned I'm going to try on the not fit for purpose point.

Will teach me to ignore advice here where most people said they just use a normal manual siphon, looks like I'll now be getting 1 of these

 

[salty pig]

Just a quick update in case it helps others but -

What a waste of time this gravel cleaner is, it's made by Pennings or distributed by them, same people who are sending out dodgy lights for the Aldi/Lidl ? tanks that I've read about in another thread here.

I've now on my second as the first broke when putting the thing together. The second has now broken in exactly the same place where the tube is pushed into the main black plastic body. It also stops siphoning after the first bucket full, nothing you do will then get the siphoning started. The thing also leaks from every joint. On a positive note it does manage to vacuum the dirt but overall it's just rubbish.

Although it exempt from being returned I'm going to try on the not fit for purpose point.

Will teach me to ignore advice here where most people said they just use a normal manual siphon, looks like I'll now be getting 1 of these

I bought a "eheim Gravel cleaner" for my son He's had it for a couple of weeks and is really pleased with it. His tank is 24 ins high and has a gravel bed he has had it totally submersed and no water has leaked into the battery case. It's good for just messing about with and does a really good job. Cleaning after use is easy too.

 

[IAmATeaf]

Thanks for the advice, I'll have a look at the eheim but I'm veering towards the tried and trusted method that seems to work for the masses.

The other thing that was weird with the cleaner I had is that the siphoning would only continue whilst you pressed the button which would mean that for every water change I'd need new batteries at least with the manual siphons you can siphon whilst cleaning so should save some time.

 

[IAmATeaf]

Just a quick question for the manual siphon/cleaners, I've seen them advertised in various lengths from 1.5m, 1.6m all the way up to 2m long. Maybe a stupid question but do the longer ones just have longer tubing or do these come in small/medium/large type sizes to suit different tank sizes.

My tank is 100cm long by around 52cm tall so was wondering if say something like a 1.6m would do?

 

[OldMan47]

I have some of various sizes. The simple siphon needs to have a cleaning tube diameter that is in proper proportion to the drain tube in order to clean well. If the cleaning tube is too narrow, it will pick up gravel. If the cleaning tube is too wide, it will not pick up the dirt. At the right diameter. it will stir the gravel but leave it in your tank. Length of the cleaning tube should be chosen to keep your hands at the top of the water while the cleaning tube is plunged into the gravel. Too short and you will get quite wet doing a gravel cleaning. Too long and the cleaning tube becomes unwieldy and awkward to use.