Increasing siphon strength in gravel vac

I have to use a long tube to gravel vac my 125g. Does anyone have any thought about increasing the siphon strength because the detritus seems to just go half way up the tube and stay suspended there. I’m looking for a little more suction power to get it out of the tube. Thanks.

 

If you pinch the tube every couple of minutes, it gives an extra tug of suction to help with that...in my experience.

 

Decreasing the throat diameter of the suction chamber will allow for a higher rate of flow

 

Hi, I use an old powerhead when I do water changes both for removing water and refilling the tank. It's home made with irrigation adaptors to connect the hoses but it was cheap and works well. Should give enough suction to get the gravel clean.

 

Hi, I use an old powerhead when I do water changes both for removing water and refilling the tank. It's home made with irrigation adaptors to connect the hoses but it was cheap and works well. Should give enough suction to get the gravel clean.

Do you have a photo or can explain how you set this up?

 

Do you have a photo or can explain how you set this up?

Get some tygon tubing feom the hardware store, cut a 12" section then connect that to the suction of the powerhead, connect the other tygon to the discharge and route that outside or the toilet or tub.

 

Do you have a photo or can explain how you set this up?

I know it looks a bit spaghettI ish. But I connect the syphon to the intake to vacuum and reverse the connection to fill the tank. There is nothing in the filter.