PrettyFishies
Aquarium Advice Addict
I need a recommendation for a gravel vac that's appropriate for fine sand.
Gravel vac for fine sand?
- Thread starter PrettyFishies
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Greta1981
Aquarium Advice Freak
I use a battery powered Eheim vac on my fine sand substrate. It doesn't change water, just vacuums up loose waste. It is not cheap--Amazon sells it at anywhere from $40 to $60--but I absolutely love mine. Every day I quickly vac up loose surface waste and then, when it's time, I do my water change with a Python No Spill and Fill. No more buckets and no more pump siphons spitting water everywhere, plus pristine water parameters!
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PrettyFishies
Aquarium Advice Addict
This? http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003C5U2SU
It's what I bought but then I saw it says not for fine sand.
It's what I bought but then I saw it says not for fine sand.
Greta1981
Aquarium Advice Freak
I know that's what it says, but I definitely use it on mine every single day without a problem. Maybe there are "grades" of fine sand. Mine's pretty fine, I'd say, but possibly do some research to see if there are levels of coarseness when it comes to sand. Again, I use it every day on my 100% sand substrate and have never had a problem. It doesn't suck sand up, actually. Somehow, I don't know quite how, the mechanism is calibrated so rocks and sand barely move. (They're lifted a tiny bit, but nowhere near where they would be sucked into the machinery.) The only thing that is really scooped up is the waste, in my experience.
Maybe there are "grades" of fine sand. Mine's pretty fine, I'd say, but possibly do some research to see if there are levels of coarseness when it comes to sand. Again, I use it every day on my 100% sand substrate and have never had a problem. It doesn't suck sand up, actually. Somehow, I don't know quite how, the mechanism is calibrated so rocks and sand barely move. (They're lifted a tiny bit, but nowhere near where they would be sucked into the machinery.) The only thing that is really scooped up is the waste, in my experience.
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PrettyFishies
Aquarium Advice Addict
Okay. That makes me feel better. Thanks! I was about to return it lol
Greta1981
Aquarium Advice Freak
Good luck.
Greta1981
Aquarium Advice Freak
I should add, just because initially I thought my vacuum was broken, that it doesn't have fast suction. It's slow and steady, so you have to hover it over the bits of waste and wait a few seconds for them to be sucked in. This very gentle pull is probably why it doesn't mess with the substrate, just the stuff resting on top of it.
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PrettyFishies
Aquarium Advice Addict
So you don't disturb the sand to get the gunk underneath?
Greta1981
Aquarium Advice Freak
You can, if you put it down closer to the sand it'll lift it up enough that you'll get all the gross stuff, trust me, but without actually sucking in the sand itself, amazingly. It's a great product. Just not super fast. If you want to leave the sand undisturbed, don't hover it quite so close. It's a matter of experimenting but no matter how close you get, sand disturbance is minimal.
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