Best Way To Clean Gravel ?

[chigwellhammer]

Can i ask what is the best way to clean gravel? I have quite a look of plants in my tank.

Thanks

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

You need to stick the gravel vac right down into the gravel, all the way to the bottom of the tank and then hold it there for a little while until it looks like the amount of muck being sucked up is decreasing. Then move the vac to the next space along and repeat!

There's some good youtube videos showing how to do it

 

[chigwellhammer]

Is there a good vac i should get hold of?

 

[hensonc4098]

Any gravel vac will do the trick, but ones with a squeezy primer pump on them will be easier to start, and save you having to suck the end of the pipe to get it going - yuck!

 

[chigwellhammer]

Ok thanks Would this be ok?

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/600-LPH-AQUARIUM-GRAVEL-CLEANER-BATTERY-VACCUM-PUMP-TELESCOPIC-FISH-TANK-WATER-/380441345532?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item5894123dfc

 

[hensonc4098]

Yep, that a battery powered one so even more fancy Or the hand pump primer ones are like this

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Well, this is your standard gravel cleaner with built in "pump" http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Instant-Siphon-Cleaner-Vacuum-for-Gravel-and-Sand-New-/400300912059?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item5d33cb2dbb

But what you've linked is good too if you don't want to remove any water while cleaning the gravel. I use the Hagen one because I am meticulous about keeping my sand clean and don't want to end up doing daily water changes lol. The Hagen one looks to be the same thing and was about £16.00 and is "branded" unlike the one you've linked and I am already having problems with it, it still works but isn't exactly a stellar peice of kit lol, there are some tricks to get it going and the dang thing won't stay on unless I hold the button down myself plus the batteries don't last long. I still wouldn't be without it and will buy another one or something similar when it dies on me. I may even buy the expensive Eheim one next time (or maybe an even cheaper one than the Hagen if it's just gonna break anyway lol).

 

[Livewire88]

I have never cleaned the gravel in my tank! I was led to beleive that in a heavily planted it is not required.

If I did it would disturb a lot of the roots so I dont bother, However a minimum of 50% of the water is changed every week without fail.

 

[tomtomtom1230]

Any gravel vac will do the trick, but ones with a squeezy primer pump on them will be easier to start, and save you having to suck the end of the pipe to get it going - yuck!

The shake-to-start siphons haven't let me down yet!

 

[hensonc4098]

Any gravel vac will do the trick, but ones with a squeezy primer pump on them will be easier to start, and save you having to suck the end of the pipe to get it going - yuck!

The shake-to-start siphons haven't let me down yet!

Hmmm. This is true. I tried to use the hose today to take water out so I could change the substrate in the 100l, effin mouthful of water and then didn't drain properly coz the hose was too long - don't you hate that, when your hose is too long...
Ended up just joining the shake siphon to aforementioned hose. Job done.

 

[FishLover4+1]

i have one of those shake ones but i cant start it so i end up sucking it. fish water tastes horrible

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I can never get those shake to start ones going lol, I just suck.

 

[zain611]

I got that battery powered vacuum but its no good and in the end i got the plastic shake to start vacuum. Heres a way i start a gravel cleaner without shaking to start it
1) With the gravel cleaner scoop up some water and make the gravel cleaner point up
2)The water will begin to go down the pipe and when its close to emptying the gravel cleaner put it back into the tank water.

This mostly starts my gravel cleaner quickly

If you have plants in you aquarium which rooted down i would move the gravel around with my hand to take the dirt out from the bottom and use the gravel cleaner to take it out

 

[Dazzler666]

Well im a shaker, not a sucker!!! lol
I use a shaker to drain my water then a pump vac usually to clean my sand.

 

[RossC]

I can't be bothered with all that shaking business, not had a mouthful for about 2 months now haha