haedra

How do you clean your gravel? I used to use a turkey baster; but I wanted to share my excitement over my new syphon. I purchased a "mini" syphon made by Python. It is made for small tanks, and works beautifully; I have enough suction to get all the out, and the water flows slowly enough that I have plenty of time to do it without removing all my water. Heck, I'm even considering using this tiny one on my 10 gallon... as even though I have a syphon rated for a 10 already, it still pulls water out too quickly for me to be able to clean all my gravel!

So while I used to recommend using a turkey baster on small tanks, I have now moved on to using a tiny syphon. But I do still use the turkey baster fairly regularly for one thing; in the corys' excitement while eating, they tend to get their pellets shoved under a crevice, then they go mad trying to get it. So I use the baster to move their food for them. Piggie little things, they are.

Beth1965

I've been hearing only good things about this item. I plan to get one tomorrow.

prairielilly

Actually a 'mini' gravel vac is the only one I've ever owned, I bought it when I got my 20g and used it on all my tanks (until I had disease issues, when I bought another the same size, one for clean tanks and one for the ...other tanks). The main hose diameter is around 1 cm and the larger tube part is about 1". I take Ivan out of his 3g when I clean his tank bc otherwise he gets stress lines, but other than that I just vac the tank as per normal. Works extremely well, on the 3g I end up removing about a third of the water and on the 20g I can vac the gravel really well but then need to use a cup to complete the wc bc otherwise it takes forever.

Amanda

I use a mini-vac even on my 55. Since I have sand, I need the slower suction to prevent sand from being sucked into the siphon. I've learned that this eventually prevents the siphon from working. :/

haedra

Isn't it funny how different they all are! Aragorn doesn't seem to give a where he is, but Devo gets stress lines if I DO take him out and cup him during a change. He absolutely HATES being taken out of his tank.

prairielilly

I bought a clear plastic dry goods container from the dollar store, holds about 1/2 a gallon and has a lid that seals. I found Ivan hates the net (can't blame him) and the tank's way too small to chase him around in, so I fill up this container with tank water and then dip him out with a plastic cup - just hold the cup close to the surface until he swims up to investigate (I swear he thinks he's a dog - he has to 'sniff' everything just like they do ) and then tilt it into the water so the suction fills up the cup and puts fishie in there at the same time. Then he goes into his half gallon house for 15 min or so while I clean his real house, then back home. I just leave the lid laying on the container, not sealed as I want him to be able to get air, but enough to make my cats think it's useless to try to fish him out. Working really well so far and cost me $1.50!

egkilmon

Jubal is a naughty boy. I also use a mini-vac, and he makes it quite a challenge with his curiosity, following the vac around the tank. He also bites the dropper I use to take water samples.

I use the same mini-vac on my 20gal cory tank. Works like a charm. But you're right on the cup thing, prairielilly.

Red1313

I've got a mini vac as well mines a top fin brand and I like it better then my big ones sometimes