Gravel Cleaners (vacumes)

[Dude]

do you really need them ?

 

[Inchworm]

You need them if you have gravel, but they are handy tools to use on sand too.

If you have gravel, the fish wastes and other debris tend to sink down into them and the wider end on a gravel-vac makes it easier to pull them out.

With sand, the debris lays on the top of it and can be removed by the filter. This works better in small tanks than large ones where the filter is at one end. In that case, a quick pass over with the gravel-vac and they are gone.

 

[ncjharris]

If your question is do you really need a gravel vacuum to clean your tank, then no - you can pretty much do it with a tube, so long as you stir up the substrate first and you're running a good filter. All a gravel filter really does is allow you to stir up the gravel while you are syphoning.

If your question is do you need to clean your gravel, then yes, absolutley.

Having said that though, some gravel vacuums offer the best way of starting the water flow - with pumps and the like.

 

[James007]

I just use my gravel pump to clean the gravel when I am doing a weekly water change. Kills two birds with one stone as it keeps your gravel clean and is also a handy way of emptying the unwanted water out of the tank.

 

[clareriley]

I just use my gravel pump to clean the gravel when I am doing a weekly water change. Kills two birds with one stone as it keeps your gravel clean and is also a handy way of emptying the unwanted water out of the tank.

this is what I do.. although I did go overboard and emptied a little over 25% the other day while closely watching for fry

 

[Inchworm]

this is what I do.. although I did go overboard and emptied a little over 25% the other day while closely watching for fry

Hi clareuk

That's not going overboard at all; it's just about right. If your nitrates tend to creep up, it's even better to change more water.