Gravel Vac's

[gsta13]

Hey all,
Iwas wondering wether there is a motorized gravel vac thatis super powerful? jus my tank is close ot dround level and its hard to pump the water out using my manual one, plus the manual one i have is rbbishand the gravelis getting dirty.

And how often do u all gravel vac?

Thanks in advance.
Greg

 

[wendyngd]

Hey all,
Iwas wondering wether there is a motorized gravel vac thatis super powerful? jus my tank is close ot dround level and its hard to pump the water out using my manual one, plus the manual one i have is rbbishand the gravelis getting dirty.

And how often do u all gravel vac?

Thanks in advance.
Greg

Hi-

I recommend the Eheim Battery operated gravel sludge vac! It's a bit pricey--$50 to 90 maybe--I was lucky to get one used but barely on e-bay!! It's amazing--great suction and pretty quiet--doesn't freak out the fish too much, Some refer to it as the "dustbuster of gravel vacs." I tried a cheaper one first- I think it was penn plex=made a lot of noise but no suction--I returned it.

I try to clean at least once a week. I'm new to this and just getting a handle on how often and how much water I need to change...I'm sure others can offer other suggestions.

Enjoy, Wendy

 

[karin15]

I just use a regular old syphon vacume, and do it at least once a week 30% water change, and also if you have a lot of fish i would recomend doing it twice a week.

 

[gsta13]

thank ya's ill have a look into that

 

[karin15]

oh right there only about 5 bucks they work just as well as the power ones.

 

[gsta13]

just wonderng does the EHEIM Battery-Operated Sludge Extractor, remove water? or can u vac without a water change?
Cheers
Greg

 

[methodmza_uk]

You always have to remove water when you vac, surely. How would it remove the waste otherwise?

 

[karin15]

lolz...

 

[gsta13]

http/www.excitingpets.com/pet:store/p/EH...UUM:BATTERY.htm

thats why im asking, but read the review down the page........

actually maybe he mnt he didnt have to remove any of the water to reach the bottom.....

me anyway u could just get a filter in a vac tway u would filter all the rubbish and wouldnt have to remove water to clean ur gravel, that is what i thouht this was

 

[karin15]

hmm interesting

 

[wendyngd]

hmm interesting

Hi-

The eheim sludge extractor can vacuum up the goo and stuff without removing the water!!!It puts it into a little removable pouch made of a kind of fabric--so the sludge can stay in as the water seeps out. Then you just open and empty the pouch (easily) and rinse it.

No it doesn't remove water. I do that manually. I hated the mess and effort of using a siphon--Hated to see my poor husband inhaling water to get the suction started and running back and forth to the sink to dump the dirty water. I'm thinking about getting one to run to the sink to empty and fill...Now I've just got the mess of bailing the water into buckets.!!

But the sludge extractor is great because I don't feel that I have to change the water as quickly...

-Wendy

hmm interesting

Hi-

The eheim sludge extractor can vacuum up the goo and stuff without removing the water!!!It puts it into a little removable pouch made of a kind of fabric--so the sludge can stay in as the water seeps out. Then you just open and empty the pouch (easily) and rinse it.

No it doesn't remove water. I do that manually. I hated the mess and effort of using a siphon--Hated to see my poor husband inhaling water to get the suction started and running back and forth to the sink to dump the dirty water. I'm thinking about getting one to run to the sink to empty and fill...Now I've just got the mess of bailing the water into buckets.!!

But the sludge extractor is great because I don't feel that I have to change the water as quickly...

-Wendy

Forgot to add that it seemed like sometimes my fish were injured whene i used to use the siphon vacuum to clean tank with them in it. Still haven't decided if it's better to take my mollies out while cleaning or risk having them in tank. Last time, it looked like one died from the shock of the change--or I hear they can be injured by the net....

 

[gsta13]

Ah ha thanks for that wendy makes me feel a lil less sily i think i will order one right away savme taking the gravel out to clean it throughly like it needs
cheers
Greg

 

[my fat fish]

i have a gravel vack electric its amazing powerful and silent it has a built in filter so as it vacs it filter the water and puts it back into the tank this is so you can have an extended time cleaning ur gravel then u just change it to remove the water only cost me £15 and i have never looked back my best buy yet ill try and get you a lnk for it on ebay

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/POWER-GRAVEL-CLEANER...1QQcmdZViewItem

well worth the cash

 

[gsta13]

argh i just ordered the other one £40 from ebay! ah well its on its way now..... cant wait for it to get here gna get al that algae off my gravel

 

[my fat fish]

what grav vac did u get? better then mine if it gets algae off the gravel can be hard stuff to #### i have a pretty shell in my tank and its gather algae cant b assed to clean it tho cos its bledy hard and im hoping ym 2 new gobys will have a munch