Which Gravel Vac?

[hjkaga]

What is the best kind of gravel vac to use? I am still considering using sand as a substrate instead of gravel...so if that makes any difference as to which one would be better let me know. I don't want something that is going to cost a lot either. Thanks.

 

[Shaun]

Hi again hjkaga,

To clean my sand substrate i use just a standard gravel vac (the same one i used to clean my gravel before i changed to sand) and rather pushing it into the sand (as this will suck it up) i just hold it about 2" above the surface of the sand and move it around in a circular motion to disturb the surface then it goes straight up the tube.

Hope this helps,

Shaun

 

[hjkaga]

thanks. i just wanted to make sure there wasn't a certain one that would work better with sand.

 

[Shaun]

No probs, there may well be one specifically for a sand substrate but i havent seen one in my LFS's.

 

[smmetz]

I have 3 gravel vacs, I use them for both sand and gravel. The only problem I have is that the poop from my 7" pleco is too big to suck right up. It gets in the tube and usually falls out eventually. I end up having to turn the gravel vac tube up and take it out of the tank every time I get a few pieces of pleco poop in it. Then it empties all into the bucket and I have to start the syphon again.

If you dont have any big poopers though, it should not be an issue.