Gravel Vacuum Issues

[Crossfire]

Every time i do my weekly water change for my 5 gallon tank, i use a gravel vacuum to get uneaten fish food out of the gravel. However, the gravel that i have is very fine black quartz, and the finest particles always get sucked up first and clog the living daylights out of the vacuum and it turns out sucking more water than dirt. Its very annoying and more time consuming that it needs to be. Any tips?

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

Perhaps you could just stir up the gravel so the dirt floats and then suck it up with the vacuum that is what you do with sand because it is also very fine.

 

[Crossfire]

Perhaps you could just stir up the gravel so the dirt floats and then suck it up with the vacuum that is what you do with sand because it is also very fine.

I've tried that, but sadly i almost bury my poor little oto cat alive....for some reason it never,ever moves. It's not dead, but even if i poke it with my gravel vacuum to move he sits there like a rock... The only time he moves if hes half buried in gravel or if the lights off

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

the same with my pleco. I'm sorry then I don't have anything else. try putting the topic up again so it will get in the newest topics area and get replied to good luck.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Perhaps you could just stir up the gravel so the dirt floats and then suck it up with the vacuum that is what you do with sand because it is also very fine.

I've tried that, but sadly i almost bury my poor little oto cat alive....for some reason it never,ever moves. It's not dead, but even if i poke it with my gravel vacuum to move he sits there like a rock... The only time he moves if hes half buried in gravel or if the lights off

If you just swirl the vac in the water a bit, you shouldn't be creating such a storm as to bury your oto.