Gravel vacuum?

[Metermaid]

I always use one of the Algarde gravel cleaners, you push end into gravel and it agitates up the tube to clean - always found them very good - however fish are getting a bit bigger now plus I have a plec in there and I am getting lots of long strings of poo ! - oh joy !, find these tend to just float around in tube and dont' really get sucked out. Do I need a vacuum - not sure how these work, or exactly what they are best for. Any advice and/or recommendations of brand would be great

 

[fishwatcher]

I don't know how it'll work on long poop, but the thing I use works great on any long plant matter in the tank. I went to the local hardware store and bought a manual siphon (it's sold for use with kerosene fuel).It cost me $2.75 and works like a champ. Much better than haveing to put the whole pipe into the water to get the sucking action started. Just a little squeezing with one hand, and it vacuums beautifully.

 

[Tolak]

I have that problem with the lower tanks on my racks. If you can get the end of the syphon lower it will increase the suction. I use plain 5/8" tubing on the lower tanks, sucks up everything. You could also try attaching a small powerhead to the end of the vac that sits in the bucket. Or get a python.

Tolak