I luckily had some thicker stiffer wall tubing which didn’t kink over which made using alot easier. If you want a gravel vacuum that is going to easily and reliably clean and drain your tank for years to come, then read on to find the gravel vacuums that performed the best. NICREW is a trademark of SHENZHEN NICAI TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD, COODIA is a trademark of ShenZhen JingShi Technology Co., Ltd. Fluval’s second attempt at a gravel vacuum, the Fluval Multi Substrate Cleaner performed much better. Any comments would be welcome but i guess for now im stuck with what i have. While the ridged hose of the Tera Pump might allow it to bend without kinking, it has a serious drawback. Well, it’s actually really simple – it all depends on the size of your aquarium. While my recommendations above outperformed, the following gravel vacuums fell short in one way or another. Dora’s Corner Store 2×10-Inch Vacuum Gravel Cleaner for AquariumBuy from … I have spent hundreds on nicrew products in the past, they have not once performed to the degree where I could recommend them. Constructed with flexible, high quality tubing. As for larger-sized aquariums, we used one of my stocked 40-gallon display tanks. Our goal was to find the best gravel vacuum ever! Vacuuming an aquarium is performed using a gravel siphon. When I had everyone at my local fish club weigh in, the results feedback was unanimous – the python gravel vacuums far outperformed the Aqueon, which actually has the exact problems you list (among many others.) The tube sits inside your aquarium and allows you to both clean your gravel and siphon water out of your tank during weekly water changes. All told, there are three different sizes. It can now be used to clean the gravel and drain water in one go, without the need for buckets. I’m getting ready to set up my 55G and was hoping there’s a vacuum with a hose long enough to empty directly to the outside. Disclaimer: After testing every major brand of electric gravel vacuum, it is my opinion that the siphon-style is superior in every way. I can locate more than 10 different brands of that same aquarium pump. The Imagitarium Aquatic Gravel Vacuum might be readily available on the shelf of your local Petco, but it was more expensive and performed worse than similar products manufactured here in America. Unfortunately, this handle made the gravel vacuum … Here is my situation – i live in an apartment – the lowest positioned tap i have is just slightly higher than the tank itself. Now, we had to come up with a way to test them. The Python gravel vacuum fails badly and not at all as good as the reviewer claims. I have the full Python kit and although it is somewhat effective in cleaning gravel it creates such a mess in the process with pails of water it makes one want to give up aquariums altogether. Thanks a lot! I have spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out what option is appropriate for our 2.5 gallon betta tank. Consisting of little more than a hose and hollow tube, this is the most popular type of gravel vacuum. (13+ Tested), 3 best and most reliable timers for your aquarium (19+ Tested), Best automatic fish feeder for easy feeding (13 tested! I have a second hose which attached to a tap is used to refill the tank. Which is right for your tank? Today, I am going to share our findings with you. Then at least we will have some fair representation of all types. 2 inches works just fine for most aquariums, unless you have a bare-bottom or undecorated tank, larger aquarium tubes get in the way of decorations and plants when cleaning. I suspect the too flexible Python tubing is the same on all models including the Python water changer dare I say. First, consider the depth of your aquarium. I’m glad I could help! Yes you have to fill buckets but it vacuums the gravel well either while doing a water change or just the small bag attachment if you need to do a quick spot cleaning in between water changes. Hello from a UK user. Thanks for weighing in. Finally it seems a big waste if you need the tap running, using hundreds of liters or gallons of water, just to remove water from your tank. It sure beats using a cup or pitcher. They often do not even manufacture it. Top positive review. I answer this just below, in my reply to Sam. I don’t know if a water changer would work for me because my kitchen sink is not even close to the tank. I have RO water at the kitchen sink for drinking and cooking, but it only makes about 2 gallons at a time, so I’m always filling gallon jugs daily for the tanks. Best Hermit Crab Habitat 2021 [Review]: What Should the Ideal Hermit Crabs Habitat Have? You are talking about a pump, which isn’t actually a gravel vacuum. That I don’t care about. Its hose also had a strong chemical smell. I can only comment on the USA models, as that is all that is readily available for me to test. It works better at sucking water out of aquariums than cleaning gravel. This is why I don’t review them. I've been keeping fish for over 30 years and currently have 4 different aquariums – it's an addiction. It will soon become one of your most commonly used pieces of aquarium equipment. Unfortunately i live in the Netherlands and many of the products you are mentioning (recommending) are either unavailable or can only be purchased from far away meaning shipping costs are just adding too much to the price. 2 inches is basically the standard width of an opening – how large is your tank? All positive reviews › Karen S. 5.0 out of 5 stars This makes aquarium … I need one bigger than 2″…does nobody make these anymore? One that I hope not to repeat too soon. Here is a video review of the Coodia which is the American version: https://www.amazon.com/COODIA-Cleaner-Automatic-Aquarium-Extractor/dp/B07K7HGTSY/?tag=fishlab-20 REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN0AZUK8H0E&t=303s, Identical to the Canadian version NICREW Power VAC Plus Automatic Gravel Cleaner, Electric Aquarium Cleaner with Sponge Filter, 3 in 1 Aquarium Vacuum Gravel Cleaner. As for noise? it’s on ebay….. That’s actually an excellent tip! During testing, we needed to modify each gravel vacuum to get the most out of the product. What would you recommend for fine gravel/sand? But the biggest problem was with the mesh vacuum bag. That they already have a new gravel vacuum on the market follows this trend. This product is of poor quality and is another accessory that requires maintenance. FREE 1-3 day shipping over $49 ... Tom Pet Products Multi-Tool Algae Scraper for Glass Aquariums, 34-in … While we did like that Aqueon included a clip to help keep the hose end inside the bucket, it didn’t make up for the hose’s flaws. Since swapping over to a water changer, I have cut down my tank maintenance time by 20 minutes! Well, things ended up getting a little out of hand, and before I knew it, I had amassed a collection of over 40 different gravel vacuums. To be honest, I was actually impressed at just how well the Eheim Quick Vac performed. There are some that will hook … While this falls short of the 4.5-hour runtime that Eheim claims, it still beat out the other electric gravel vacuums we tested by a long shot. It effortlessly lifted debris that had fallen into the crevices of the gravel. Meanwhile, the vacuum tubes were durable and made from a thicker plastic than any other brand of gravel vacuum. I rent so I have no control over the filter system. Includes 5-foot attachable hose. Yes. I having no gravel but with sand. Thanks again. You see, the mini-gravel vacuums work exceptionally well at precision vacuuming. Penn-Plax offered one of the cheapest electric gravel vacuums on the market. Because gravel vacuums are a fairly inexpensive product, I decided to round up and test all the most commonly used gravel vacuums on the market. I’m based in the U.K. and find your site very helpful. Water is Hard as a rock. Both of these should produce adequate suction for gravel vacuuming with the water changer head. The #1 best aquarium water changer for easy maintenance (5 tested! Don’t be mad if it doesn’t match your expectations. My Agenda is this:: If you are going to do any kind of a comparison or review and you are claiming to be impartial then why not have all the top players in the review? Running off 4 AA batteries, we consistently got just over 4 hours of use. The hose on the ordinary python siphons is about 6 ft, just too short…. A powerful 3-in-1 aquarium cleaning tool, the TOM Mr. Cleaner from KollerCraft siphons water, removes algae, and cleans gravel. The Small-Tall size has a much longer tube, easily reaching the bottom of most nano-cube tanks. Just how long are the hoses on water change systems? Regular water changes are an unavoidable part of fishkeeping. What gravel vac do you use? However, this comes at a cost. All products reviewed on this site are paid for in full by me. It prevents small pieces of debris from escaping and turning your aquarium water cloudy. This will determine the ideal size of the opening…. Running on two C-sized batteries, this device failed to offer a reasonable amount of suction. Im now stuck with a long hose and some bits and pieces, costing a minor fortune and pretty much useless so here is what i ended up with (which works). If you strip these extras away, you are left with a perfectly sized gravel vacuum for small aquariums, one of the best on the market. The hose came clamped, restricting water flow. Even the sticky pleco poop wasn’t a challenge and was quickly sucked into the vacuum chamber. I never vacuum … Holding the main plastic tube ready to vacuum and trying to siphon it won’t. The degree of which you are so vehemently opposed to them is suspect to your impartiality. Hi, my names Ian. But you should be bale to eventually position it in a way that minimal to no sand is sucked up while anything resting on the surface is removed as the chopstick stirs through the sand. The silicone hose easily flexed and returned to shape when squeezed, providing precise control over the flow of water being sucked out of the tank. During the testing of the first one, the vacuum tube was a loose fit and fell out when I held the product vertically. For this review I only tested gravel vacuums, not pumps. I really like your site – great for me who is a newbie. You choose when to include or exclude at whim. However, you could buy their Gravel Tube with Tail Connector (2.5 ft) + the Gravel Cleaner Extension (10ft) for a total of 12.5 ft. Easy to start and use. It was Python’s quality design that beat out the competition. Going further, it’s identical to the SunSun one: https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32967986750.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.4a873df4J8tR0h, https://www.aliexpress.com/i/33031483607.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.4a873df4cISEkJ. Python makes a wide range of exceptional water changing products. Best Tortoise Enclosure Review 2020:  What Do Tortoises Need in Their Enclosure? I know some people throw their 50 ft tubing out a window of their 2 story house to a tap in their backyard, which solves the height problem. The hose also stayed in the same coiled shape it was inside the packaging. I use ” Pro Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Vacuum Pump” that is The Best electric gravel vacuum which you don’t have in your lists. While it can be difficult to tell the difference when shopping online, the vacuum tubes found on gravel vacuums come in a wide variety of sizes. Like with every automatic gravel vacuum, I recommend adding filter floss to the vacuum chamber. It doesn’t matter how long it is, 2″ diameter works super crappy. It’s not the fact that these companies manufacture in China. The first is a how to assemble video. Tape a chopstick or similar to the end of the tube. I’m terribly sorry to hear about your water changing issues, this can be one of the more time consuming and difficult parts of the hobby – the layout of your home can impact it dramatically. Even if you manage to complete the task without spilling a drop, it’s a lot of effort – especially if you have to go up and down stairs. How far the chopstick protrudes will take a little trial and error as there is some variation in suction depending on the gravel vacuum and tubing used. Over time, sludge and other waste will accumulate here, and it is almost impossible to remove. (Review 2020). In fact, there are just a few models to choose from. Serving the greater Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, Everett and Tacoma areas. As for the pleco? For this you would probably be best speaking to a plumber to determine the size you need – I have little experience using a pump with a water changer. I had high hopes for the Nicrew Rechargeable Automatic Gravel Vacuum. If you need a “Bigger Tube” you could go online and research “3 inch Clear Poly Tubing” and buy it to length…. If you want to know more about water changers, you can read our guide about how to use them here. I have reviewed plenty of Nicrew stuff in the past, including their last gravel vacuum, which wasn’t great. This discussion isn’t going to change my mind on the bad reputation nicrew has made for itself. It’s ideal for removing fish waste and other detritus without removing valuable aquarium water. Otherwise the basic python water change system comes in 25 ft, 50 ft, 75 ft, or 100 ft with the ability to extend either in either 10 or 20 ft increments. From your generic Top Fin or Imagitarium gravel vacs, found on the shelves of your local PetSmart or Petco, to the more specialized Python gravel vacs – nothing was off limits. It allowed me to adjust the flow of water without kinking the hose. It’s finally done. I’m sure I could find more if I looked harder. Okay, so Lee’s Ultra Gravel Vac comes with a few extra bells and whistles. And, a gravel vacuum provides an easy way to siphon water out of your aquarium. Unfortunately i have forgotten what i learned in the physics classes in school so turned out to be a waste of money. While it slowly straightened out over the following weeks, it initially made using the gravel vacuum difficult. Because water changes are a vital part of keeping your tank clean and healthy. The next size up that Python offers features a 2-inch opening. Content found on fishlab.com is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice. So when I suck the debris, it might suck the sands too. We’re your complete source for aquarium design, maintenance, service and supplies including: saltwater fish, corals, aquarium … However, when graded against other areas of performance, such as how easy they were to start, quality of materials and price, it soon became clear who the winners were. Yep, you will never have to carry a bucket of water through your house again! at a glance: our top picks for gravel vacuums, QUICK OVERVIEW: OUR TOP PICKS FOR GRAVEL VACUUM. I have well water and there’s a salt residue in the tap water around the sink or if I air dry my dishes, from the well water filtering system. Despite being electric, the sound given off by the motor was hardly noticeable. I know you are US based but I may find the brand here. I particularly liked the inclusion of a flow control valve at the top of the vacuum tube. Hi Guys,[Note: If you like this video or if you think it helped you, please click on the ads appearing on top-right corner of this page. I don’t recall the brand, it was just some generic filter floss I bought off amazon. Want more information? It’s the fact that there is no quality control, customer service….anything on their end. The Fluval Aqua Vac Plus was the only electric gravel vacuum we tested that could also pump water out and into a bucket, similar to a traditional siphon. Each of the above gravel vacuums features a 2-inch (5-cm) diameter opening on the tube and 6 feet (1.8 m) of hose. ), The best aquarium net for your fish tank (Over 30 tested!). Generic Chinese reproductions. I've got planted tanks, and while some of them don't have plants that are disturbed by a gravel vac, I do have a "cryptocoryne tank" and they don't even like a gravel vac anywhere near their roots. Meanwhile, my local fish store was also kind enough to allow me to test gravel vacs on 60-gallon, 100-gallon and 200-gallon tanks. This is the type of gravel vacuum you want. Everyone has a different approach, I never liked siphon bulbs as they are one more thing you need to clean and can get mold inside them. Unfortunately, in the case of the Fluval Edge Gravel Cleaner, it’s a miss. This offered greater control over the water flow when compared to a thicker, more rigid hose like that of the Aqueon Siphon Vacuum, which resulted in jerkier movement. You are overpaying for a product that can be shipped direct from China for a few dollars, through alibaba. You have three different lengths to choose from…. I mean, every gravel vacuum both sucked water and removed sludge from the gravel to some degree. Your email address will not be published. Choosing the correct size gravel vacuum for your aquarium, complete review of the Python Water Changer, https://www.amazon.com/COODIA-Cleaner-Automatic-Aquarium-Extractor/dp/B07K7HGTSY/?tag=fishlab-20, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN0AZUK8H0E&t=303s, Effectively separates and removes debris from your aquarium, Constructed with flexible, high quality tubing, For aquariums from 10 to 20 gallons in size, Perfect for beginner and experienced hobbyists, Wide mouth nozzle for hard to reach areas, For aquariums from 20 to 55 gallons in size. There are lots of posts about this for the Python as well (and of course its the law of physics at play, not the brand name). Thanks Ian. The main difference is build quality and size and lengths of tubing, which make the whole experience more personalized for your tank. A gravel vac is a rigid plastic tube, typically 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, attached to a hose. View full review. Poor design and not worth what I paid for. The TOM Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner featured an angled neck with a pump bulb incorporated directly into the handle. For the price of a good electric gravel vacuum, you could afford up to five of the siphon-style gravel vacuums. I’ll need three 5G buckets filled for the 55G, but at least I won’t have to empty 3 buckets of water!

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