Gravel Cleaning Question - Small Tank. - Page 3 - Aquarium Advice

edith · 09-17-2003, 01:24 PM

Have you considered using a little pump to get the water started. I use a small bulb, like the ones used for clearing a babies nose. They are cheap and get the job done!

rvijay07 · 09-17-2003, 01:31 PM

This is a good suggestion. However, I have been able to use a simple tube of suitable length filled with water to siphon. It has worked out very well over the past few weeks.

Vijay

LondonGman · 09-17-2003, 02:47 PM

Not sure if you are referring to a special small gravel vacuum but I have whipped out the Kodak DC125 for a picture of a gravel vacuum.
Also if the water tastes funny, it could do with a change [acronym:bbd036cb30="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:bbd036cb30]

ADCISCO · 09-17-2003, 04:49 PM

Yep that is the thing I use to clean my gravel too. I have it down to a science now. I can get it started on the first try now. Used to get so aggrivated with it but now I know to get the cylender full of water and hold it up to run out of it and when it just starts to make a sucking noise I stick it back in the water and walla....its doing its job!

rvijay07 · 09-17-2003, 05:09 PM

My 2G is a planted tank. It has a lot of plants in it and looks really wonderful. Hence, I don't gravel
vacum the floor. Just water changes are OK.

Vijay

Kate · 09-18-2003, 09:08 AM

An idea that may work is to make one by buying a small plastic bottle and plastic tubing that fit the bottle where the lid is....{maybe cut hole in the lid}.... it has to be small enough to fit a small tank...and work.

...or you could buy a baster with a bulb or as someone else helpful stated ...a baby bulb thingy...to jump start the water by squeezing bulb...insert end of baster in tube or just the bulb even...

Kate

Mr502go · 09-18-2003, 03:12 PM

Hey, that's the same vac I have, works great. Just put the tube in the water, shake up and down VIGOROUSLY a coupla times, and the siphon starts. Just make sure the flapper valve at the top moves freely.

gjscad · 09-19-2003, 04:14 PM

Got a mouth full of water???? Been there - done that - Never again

Try using a turkey baster to get the siphoning starter. Insert it into the end of the tube with the blub depressed and then let it out.

gjscad

09-17-2003, 04:49 PM	#24
ADCISCO Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: West Virginia Posts: 296 Images: 12	Yep that is the thing I use to clean my gravel too. I have it down to a science now. I can get it started on the first try now. Used to get so aggrivated with it but now I know to get the cylender full of water and hold it up to run out of it and when it just starts to make a sucking noise I stick it back in the water and walla....its doing its job! __________________ I'm not telling anymore![acronym:44c74db7b1="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:44c74db7b1] Everytime I update a fish dies.....I think it is some kind of curse!!!! BEWARE......Its really true....I've asked around![acronym:44c74db7b1="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:44c74db7b1] No Lie! Even posted on it!!!!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Gravel cleaning in a planted tank	SHIFT_Unique	Freshwater & Brackish - Planted Tanks	2	09-12-2006 03:08 PM
Gravel Cleaning Question	richiestang_78	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	10	05-10-2006 02:25 AM
Tank cleaning, gravel vac question	elliott_001	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	5	02-19-2006 01:43 AM
Cleaning a Small Tank	blang	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	5	01-24-2005 07:28 AM
Gravel Cleaning Question	jboan16	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	1	12-21-2002 11:10 PM

09-17-2003, 01:24 PM	#21
edith Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Texas USA Posts: 2	Have you considered using a little pump to get the water started. I use a small bulb, like the ones used for clearing a babies nose. They are cheap and get the job done!

09-17-2003, 01:31 PM	#22
rvijay07 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 292	This is a good suggestion. However, I have been able to use a simple tube of suitable length filled with water to siphon. It has worked out very well over the past few weeks. Vijay

09-17-2003, 02:47 PM	#23
LondonGman Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leytonstone, London Posts: 224 Images: 2	Not sure if you are referring to a special small gravel vacuum but I have whipped out the Kodak DC125 for a picture of a gravel vacuum. Also if the water tastes funny, it could do with a change [acronym:bbd036cb30="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:bbd036cb30]

09-17-2003, 05:09 PM	#25
rvijay07 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 292	My 2G is a planted tank. It has a lot of plants in it and looks really wonderful. Hence, I don't gravel vacum the floor. Just water changes are OK. Vijay

09-18-2003, 09:08 AM	#26
Kate Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: USA Posts: 5	An idea that may work is to make one by buying a small plastic bottle and plastic tubing that fit the bottle where the lid is....{maybe cut hole in the lid}.... it has to be small enough to fit a small tank...and work. ...or you could buy a baster with a bulb or as someone else helpful stated ...a baby bulb thingy...to jump start the water by squeezing bulb...insert end of baster in tube or just the bulb even... Kate

09-18-2003, 03:12 PM	#27
Mr502go Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 105	Hey, that's the same vac I have, works great. Just put the tube in the water, shake up and down VIGOROUSLY a coupla times, and the siphon starts. Just make sure the flapper valve at the top moves freely.

09-19-2003, 04:14 PM	#28
gjscad Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 11	Got a mouth full of water???? Been there - done that - Never again Try using a turkey baster to get the siphoning starter. Insert it into the end of the tube with the blub depressed and then let it out. gjscad