Gravel Vacuum, but which one?

Okay, the siphoning into a bucket for water changes and gravel cleaning is a little too cumbersome for me, especially in moving a full bucket of water, so I've been looking up self-contained gravel vacuums. I've found one from Eheim that the reviews have been decent for, but it runs about $60-$80 bucks, some sites even higher. I've also found one from Hagen that's only $20 (the A-1004). Both extend the same length, and operate the same way. Should I spend the extra bucks on the Eheim, or should I go with the Hagen?

 

The EHEIM one is excellent and one I plan on buying as well soon. It will clean your gravel without removing water by passing the dirty water through a filter and the clean water back into the tank, but you do still NEED to do water changes once a week. No matter how clean the gravel is, toxins and growth-inhibiting pheromones released by the fish will build up in the water and never evaporate. Water changes are a little easier when you don't need to vacuum the gravel as well. Just scoop out about 20% of water and add fresh water. Unfortunately this still involves buckets and so on. There is no way around that. Fish need the fresh water to stay healthy, but the EHEIM sludge remover tool allows you to vacuum longer and more thoroughly without all the water draining out. You can vacuum half the tank one week and the other half the next week or the whole tank only every two weeks to avoid removing too much beneficial bacteria.
Other people have told me it does make tank maintenance a lot easier and faster. The EHEIM is more expensive but the cheaper brands have gotten bad reviews and just don't work as well. Don't waste money on the cheaper ones.

There is also something called a Python which attaches to your sink and you can vacuum and do water changes without any buckets as the water drains into the sink, BUT, the fresh water you put back into the tank would come straight from the tap and you would need to expose your fish to chlorine and chloramines for a while until you pour the dechlorinator into the tank. I am not willing to expose my fish to that. I don't like the idea of pouring dechlorinator chemicals undiluted directly into the tank either. It takes a few minutes for the chemicals in there to stabilize the wildly fluctuating Ph levels and this can't be good for the fish. The hose also looks awkward and depending how far it is from your tank to a sink, you may need extensions. I think I'd rather lug a bucket of water than wrestle with a 30ft or longer hose...

It's up to you but those are some options.

 

we're planning on getting the python:

 

we're planning on getting the python:

Don't you feel nervous about exposing your fish to untreated tap water and pouring in conditioner afterwards?

 

I still dont' quite get how hte python works. It put water back in immediately, but where does the dirty water go? Also, it is like a self-moving vacuum cleaner, or do you still need to be vaccuming yourself?

 

I have an EHEIM one for each of my tanks to make sure that there is no cross contamination in case of disease in one tank that I do not see as yet and I really love them for when I do not need to remove water (like if the stinkers decide not to eat all their food on the bottom)
but I have made a homemade python type syphon that does not use tap water to use to remove the water on the water change days and I love it. I have a long enough hose to run out the door to my flowers and they love it too. After all, I remember the days when we used to use fish emulsion for fertilizer.

Here is the first part of it and I use the extra tubing with a 1/2" inner diameter that is sold seperately by the foot or yard to hook up the rest to the length you want and then seal the seams with aquarium sealant to prevent leaks at the seams and use my foot to pump it and it is fantastic and gravel vacuums at the same time. Could not ask for more and I do not have to worry about the chlorine from the tap water hurting the fish. Of course, I still have to carry water to fill the tank, but I don't mind with not having to carry it out and have the extra equipment to clean up to empty it as well. This set up is easy to clean and I leave it to lay out in the sun to disinfect it for a couple of hours after cleaning.

Rose

This is the one I use and it is the best one it has the connector for the extended tubing already on the end of it. the pump bulb makes it easy to prime and it also has a shut off valve to keep from having a mess when you are finished and want the flow to stop. (Always turn it off before removing it from the water)

This is the tubing I used in the 5/8" diameter inside size and you will just have to choose the length you need.

I realize that this may be more expensive than a Python but I do not have a sink that will work with a Python and I am squemish about having fish water going down my sink anyway plus I do not like the idea of chlorinated water going directly into my tank with just adding the conditioner to the tank. This is just the opinion of an old gal who is super protective but it works and besides Gunnie told me that the Pythons were mostly used just for really big tanks so I do not figure the tanks I have are big enough for the problems.

Rose

 

I don't even have a gravel vacuum....... Should i?? Miley

 

Well only if you have gravel!

 

I have it in my biggest tank

Miley

 

The only reason I have so much trouble with buckets is because of an arm and leg injury from a car wreck, and my husband works really long hours, thus making me the tank upkeeper. I think I'll save for the Eheim though. Thanks everyone!

 

I don't even have a gravel vacuum....... Should i?? Miley

maybe when you get bigger tanks, but we've not decided to get one until now that we got that 30 gallon tall.

 

I got one of the Python things a few weeks ago, and it's SO nice! Cuts down water changes and everything to about 20 minutes instead of an hour!
I put the correct amount of Prime in a syringe and add drops of it into the flow of water going into the tank. But I've got well water, so I don't have a lot of the nasty things that city water may have added into it, so I don't worry.
It costs more than the bucket/regular gravel vac combo, but it is worth it! No more lugging buckets of splashing water to the sink, no more spilling water (I have carpet in the room where the tanks are). I'd recommend it to anyone who wants an easy way to do water changes and gravel vacuuming.
Whew.... I feel like the people at python gravel vacuums should be paying me....


-Michelle-

 

So how does the vaccuuming part work? You still have to do some hand motion, or it is self-moving?

 

Self moving? How would it know where to vacuum and how to not suck up the fish and plants?
Yes, of course you have to do it by hand. The only self vacuuming thing I've ever seen is for swimming pools and they don't have fish or obstacles in the way, and they don't do a good job...

 

Well my mom has a self-moving lawn mower. She calls is Grassey I think!

Mmmm, so how do you make sure that the incoming water is conditionned while at the same time you're vaccuuming?

 

Well my mom has a self-moving lawn mower. She calls is Grassey I think!

Mmmm, so how do you make sure that the incoming water is conditionned while at the same time you're vaccuuming?

with the python you vacuum the gravel and get as much water out of the tank as you want, then you push up a little think at the sink (really I suck at explanations sorry!) and then water flows through the hose to fill your tank (instead of when you are vacuuming and it's sucking the water out.)

 

Well my mom has a self-moving lawn mower. She calls is Grassey I think!

really? should I ask what she'd call a python system?

 

Or you could make one for a few dollars
1) Buy an inexpensive water hose
2) buy an adaptor that screws onto the threaded end of your hose and fits your kitchen sink (or which ever faucet your going to re-fill with)
3)buy an adaptor to fit the other end of the hose with an on/off knob
4) buy a hose repair connector
now attach your siphon and go to work vacuuming( I run my water outside into the flowers)
Water and sludge will be pulled out. when you have all the water you want out, connect the other end to the sink, set the temp ( I set by feel) pour the amount of dechlor you need into the tank then fill with water.
It's really simple.

 

And heres a pic of the hose repair connector I forgot in the above post

 

Oh I've GOT to answer that. YOu're keeping the door wide open: pooey!

Well my mom has a self-moving lawn mower. She calls is Grassey I think!

really? should I ask what she'd call a python system?

 

I wish I could just let the water go out the window during water changes.... but my tanks are downstairs, and the windows are about chest high down there. so due to the laws of gravity I don't think it'd work. lol not like the poor plants outside need any more water, they're already drowning in what we've gotten in the last few weeks (12 inches in 14 days! I sure do miss the sun.....)

 

Oh I've GOT to answer that. YOu're keeping the door wide open: pooey!

Well my mom has a self-moving lawn mower. She calls is Grassey I think!

really? should I ask what she'd call a python system?

hooray for pooey! lol

 

I just picked up something called AquaVac by Marina. The fittings for the faucet are metal (copper) vs the python which are plastic. In fact the plastic couplings on this one are much higher quality (higher nylon content in the plastic for added strength) than the python (which I used to own a few years ago).

My only question is how to dry it out when done! I drain it by turning the faucet on and removing the gravel vac end from the water so it sucks the water back through. Then with it still running I start winding it up which causes gravity to drain much of the rest.

However there always remains many droplets of water inside which in the past has caused mildew to form.

Right now I'm keeping it by a window so the sun can evaporate it. Perhaps it's all I can do? In the winter I'll put it near the baseboard heat. If it ever gets nasty I guess I could run a little chorinated water through, let it soak and then chase with lots of fresh water?

 

I made my own version

I made my own version of python that doesn't fit on the sink as I was not comfortable with the water coming straight from the sink into the tanks and also was not all that happy about the poo going down my sink. It is really easy and runs the water outside into my flower garden and would work running the water out the windows if that is what you want. I described it here:



I hope this helps.

Rose