However, there are also manual gravel cleaners, as well as vacuum gravel cleaners. The best thing about the Marina Easy Clean gravel vacuum is that it has been designed for all aquarium types and sizes. It has a one-way flow system that prevents any water spillage or leakage. Product Name. I’m sure I could find more if I looked harder. Unplug all your aquarium equipment and siphon out the water from the tank with a gravel vacuum. Unfortunately, Aqueon decided to use the same foul-smelling hose that they do on their water changer system. If you’re ready to find the best gravel cleaner for your tank, take a look at the best sellers on our list below. It’s the fact that there is no quality control, customer service….anything on their end. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. The hose came clamped, restricting water flow. While we had no issues with reliability during testing, you should be aware that at the time of writing this, over 50% of reviews left on Amazon were 1-star. The Small-Tall size has a much longer tube, easily reaching the bottom of most nano-cube tanks. However, it may not be feasible for your apartment. The degree of which you are so vehemently opposed to them is suspect to your impartiality. I suspect the too flexible Python tubing is the same on all models including the Python water changer dare I say. Each tank was also set up with an appropriately sized aquarium heater, filter outlet and fake plants to recreate obstacles that would be found in a regular tank. Depending on the shape of your tank, you may find that you need a longer gravel tube to reach the bottom of your aquarium. First, it comes with an oval-shaped, wide-mouth attachment. It soon became apparent that while some gravel vacuums performed noticeably better than others, every gravel vacuum we tested was capable of siphoning water from the aquarium. Hello from a UK user. Anyway I wanted to get a waterchanger and since the Python you recommended is nowhere to be found, i instead bought a JBL Aqua in out. Long enough to throw out on my terrasse. You have three different lengths to choose from…. Feel free to let me know how it goes. As for the water changer, is there a faucet outside the apartment your water changer could reach? So I wish I bought the Aqueon which is 2/3 cheaper. Their Everyday Feeder took first place in FishLab’s best automatic fish feeder review. I personally use both a standard-size and a mini-size vacuum. All these aquarium gravel … Although, back then, we didn’t have the internet. Hi Gary, I don’t test generic Chinese products. I have a second hose which attached to a tap is used to refill the tank. However, this was easily overcome. at a glance: our top picks for gravel vacuums, QUICK OVERVIEW: OUR TOP PICKS FOR GRAVEL VACUUM. During testing, we needed to modify each gravel vacuum to get the most out of the product. 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. ESPECIALLY when someone is asking you to give it a fair impartial test. The Aqueon Siphon Vacuum comes in a wide range of sizes. One that I hope not to repeat too soon. 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. Thanks Ian. First, consider the depth of your aquarium. It was Python’s quality design that beat out the competition. Then how can your reviews be considered impartial. Cheap and available in a wide range of sizes, these are a favorite among beginners and experts alike. This piece of plastic connects to the vacuum tube and provides about 20% more surface area. 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. They are basically all the same pump. Yes. Generic Chinese reproductions. Aquarium siphon with 3D Filter Basket Net, protect your love fish and small gravel from … Any comments would be welcome but i guess for now im stuck with what i have. I bought a cleaner from a fish shop yesterday and the sand just flowed through the filter holes on the cleaner so I ended up cleaning it in a bucket and putting it back – not ideal. Many years back, my thought process concerning aquarium gravel was simple. The Penn-Plax Aquarium Gravel Vacuum promised it all. You can’t have winners without losers. This is the type of gravel vacuum you want. Full disclosure: Gravel vacuums are little more than a tube and hose, a design repeated by every brand tested. I’ll tell you why it fails badly. The Upettools aquarium gravel cleaner is one of the best electric gravel vacuum cleaners in the market. I do stress that all gravel vacuums I tested were capable of both draining and cleaning, so even if you choose another brand, it will work to some degree. Thanks so much for sharing! 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. Because of this, all gravel vacuums tested were able to both clean gravel and siphon water to some degree of effectiveness. Best Electric. To be honest, I was actually impressed at just how well the Eheim Quick Vac performed. Thanks so much for taking the time to review and comment on all these options. 【3 in 1 Function】: ① Dirt Suction. Not only can it vacuum, but it can also blow and mulch. A gravel vacuum is good for another motive too: it’s efficient and easy to use, no matter if you’re a beginner or a more professional fish keeper. I particularly liked the inclusion of a flow control valve at the top of the vacuum tube. As for the pleco? That sounds like a tricky situation with your water source. It is a BPA-free vacuum cleaner that effectively cleans your fish tank and the gravel in it. For example, we found that tiny pieces of waste escaped the vacuum’s bag and clouded up the tank. 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. In fact, there are just a few models to choose from. I having no gravel but with sand. 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 luckily had some thicker stiffer wall tubing which didn’t kink over which made using alot easier. The standard-sized opening on a gravel vacuum is 2 inches (5 cm) and is suitable for aquariums 20 gallons and over. The tank will be about 3 ft from the front door and the farthest end of the tank is another 4 ft, so I need something with a total length of approximately 8 ft so I can run it directly from the tank out the door and immediately off the deck to the ground. It tastes terrible. Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System, Python Pro-Clean Aquarium Gravel Washer and Siphon Kit, EHEIM Quick Vacpro Automatic Gravel Cleaner and Sludge Extractor, Dora’s Corner Store Aquarium Vacuum Gravel Cleaner, Includes two nozzles, one for drainage and another for cleaning, Variable length tubing (25', 50', 75' and 100' available), Makes it possible to directly drain or fill a tank, Integrated strainer prevents picking up gravel or fish, Made from durable, high-quality materials, Supports tanks from 10 gallons up to 55 gallons, Cleans tank gravel without a siphon or bucket, Variable length tubing (25′, 50′, 75′ and 100′ available), Compatible with most, but not all, faucets, Rigid intake tube is not ideal for use in small tanks or deep tanks, Tube length is not ideal for large or deep tanks, Not intended for use with fine sand or gravel, 56″ drain hose may not be long enough for some tanks. Once you try out this water changer, gravel vacuums feel clumsy – there is no going back. 1. You are not gaining any reputation points yourself. As such, it can clean your tank quicker compared to … I am open to suggestions. Python PRO CLEAN - EXTRA LARGE (for tanks to 55 Gallons) Python. The next size up that Python offers features a 2-inch opening. Consisting of little more than a hose and hollow tube, this is the most popular type of gravel vacuum. and for a laugh The second is where a Homer Simpson put the motor on backwards and can’t figure out why it won’t work. Vacuuming your fish tank gravel is a simple process that you can incorporate easily into your weekly partial water change regimen. With a built-in rechargeable battery and being significantly more affordable than FishLab’s top pick, it had a lot of promise. While we could have waited for the filter to take care of it, we were able to trap even the smallest pieces of gunk by adding a fine filter media to the gravel vac. While you could use the extra-large Pro-Clean, which Python claims is suitable for aquariums up to 75 gallons, you might find that it’s more trouble than it’s worth. I answer this just below, in my reply to Sam. So if you are considering skipping a gravel vacuum, I recommend that you reconsider. Score. We wanted to test each gravel vacuum on an appropriately sized tank. I've been keeping fish for over 30 years and currently have 4 different aquariums – it's an addiction. Unfortunately, the vinyl hose is split into two and requires a pump bulb to attach in between. Why do you need one larger that 2 inches? 2. What gravel vac do you use? Otherwise it sounds like you have your process all sorted, despite the extra effort needed. Updated on Nov 9, 2020 by Bob Flickerton. Unless you do a balancing act and hold the flexible tube. Unfortunately, this handle made the gravel vacuum difficult to grip and provided no advantage over the more conventional style of gravel vacuum caps. If you find yourself cringing at the thought, then you will be happy to know that I have a better solution for you…. For more information, please refer to our Comment Policy. There are two different types of gravel cleaners commonly used in aquariums…. Summary: Revolutionize water change day with this versatile, top-notch electric aquarium vacuum! As for noise? 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. For this review I only tested gravel vacuums, not pumps. Here Are Our Top 5 Picks For The Best Aquarium Gravel … However, if you have a larger tank, you will likely be unimpressed at the rate at which this siphon drains your tank. You are correct, my review was tested using small to medium sized pebbles. In practice, the attachment was flimsy and slightly bowed. It can now be used to clean the gravel and drain water in one go, without the need for buckets. You see, for a large tank, a 20% water change can require at least two or three trips through your house with an overflowing bucket. I understand this does make things difficult, but from my research, fish keeping brands and products on the other side of the pond are vastly different to what we use here in America. This will determine the ideal size of the opening…. Doesn’t need batteries because gravity does all the work, Cannot clean gravel without draining water, Don’t need to drain the tank to clean the gravel, Requires constant cleaning to maintain suction, Often need modification to work correctly. However, this comes at a cost. Hi Ian. The other route is a water pump as you suggested. For something as simple a device as these are, it was ridiculously complicated to figure out what to purchase! 6. hygger 12V DC 5-in-1 Electric Aquarium Gravel Vacuum Cleaner Kit Sand Washer Gravel Cleaning Tools Water Change for Fish Tank 8.2/10 our score Check Price At Amazon Are you sure you don’t have a counterfeit? Electric gravel vacuums are often purchased in addition to a siphon-style gravel vacuum. I wish you the best of luck with your purchase. GO TO AMAZON. This worked better in theory. Here are some vacuum gravel cleaners that can help you do just that. All the above Python Pro-Clean models feature a vacuum tube diameter of 1 inch (2.5 cm) and 6 feet (1.8 m) of hose. Regular water changes are an unavoidable part of fishkeeping. During cleaning, the bag caught on aquarium decorations and driftwood, separating it from the body of the vacuum and releasing gunk throughout the tank. Our selection of aquarium gravel cleaners includes options suitable for a variety of tank sizes, and all will help you take out dirty water as well as vacuum waste from the bottom. I put this gravel vacuum to the test on an Oscar tank and a pleco tank at my local fish store. That they already have a new gravel vacuum on the market follows this trend. The cause is the plastic tubing is too flexible and kinks over double just above the main wide plastic tube preventing the water siphoning. This aquarium vacuum cleaner is equipped with 6-in-1 functions. By placing the tube end of the gravel vac over your substrate, you can vacuum all this gunk away, keeping your tank neat and tidy. With the help of gravity, a gravel vacuum will continuously drain water from your tank until you remove it from your aquarium. 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. Oh, and it’s not one or the other. Best Budget. Which is right for your tank? 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. It was a looooong and boring process. The Marina Easy Clean Gravel Cleaner is one of the best aquarium vacuum cleaners out there. All told, there are three different sizes. I don’t recall the brand, it was just some generic filter floss I bought off amazon. The elastic mesh bag stretched over the blower and was easily removed. Score. It would be like Nike and Adidas selling the same product. With its features, it guarantees a reliable and superb performance. Gravel Vacuum for Aquarium equipped with a duckbill suction inlet accessory, and it is easy to suck the feces away. I honestly wish I could make product suggestions for international readers, but unfortunately, it would be almost impossible to accomplish this. The Python Water Changer is essentially a gravel vacuum that connects to your faucet with a long hose. Best of all, it’s available in three different sizes…. 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. Don’t be mad if it doesn’t match your expectations. I appreciate that! I really like your site – great for me who is a newbie. It’s just that, based on testing, FishLab’s top picks are better. Most aquarium gravel vacuums (sometimes called a gravel vac or an aquarium vacuum) consist of a clear, wide, rigid, plastic tube, typically about 2" in diameter, attached to a narrower, flexible, siphon tube, typically about 1/2" in diameter. This discussion isn’t going to change my mind on the bad reputation nicrew has made for itself. 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. I had high hopes for the Nicrew Rechargeable Automatic Gravel Vacuum. 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. Over time, sludge and other waste will accumulate here, and it is almost impossible to remove. I have reviewed plenty of Nicrew stuff in the past, including their last gravel vacuum, which wasn’t great. It could for sure be distressing to hunt for the best aquarium gravel cleaner, but this won’t be the case if you invest in Jeeco vacuum cleaner. This is why I don’t review them. It sure beats using a cup or pitcher. The hose also stayed in the same coiled shape it was inside the packaging. Be sure to read the fine print. Gravel vacuum systems can be tricky to operate, and it takes some practice to get the hang of it. It prevents small pieces of debris from escaping and turning your aquarium water cloudy. LL Products Gravel Vacuum for Aquarium - Fish Tank Gravel Cleaner- Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner -Aquarium Siphon - 8 FT Long Aquarium Gravel Cleaner with Mini Net 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,299 $18.99 This product is of poor quality and is another accessory that requires maintenance. The downside is that in order to clean your gravel, you must also drain water from your tank. The 55 has gravel and the 29 has sand. Turns out its almost identical to the python. While I love the Fluval Edge range of aquariums, their similarly branded accessories can be hit and miss. Contact Disclaimer: fishsupplyguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. Both of these should produce adequate suction for gravel vacuuming with the water changer head. Python No Spill Clean and Fill Aquarium Gravel Tube, 36-Inch Python. 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. Your comment will appear after it is approved by our staff. 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. Python has you covered. Unfortunately i have forgotten what i learned in the physics classes in school so turned out to be a waste of money. A water changer is essentially a giant gravel vacuum that connects to your faucet, eliminating the need to carry buckets of water back and forth through your home. Similarly, you can use the faucet to fill your aquarium with fresh water. They do not design it. Disclaimer: After testing every major brand of electric gravel vacuum, it is my opinion that the siphon-style is superior in every way. I suspect that the reason our online Kijiji classified ads are overflowing with people selling off all their setups at dollar store prices is due to what a pain in the aXX it is every 2 to 4 weeks. 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. I would guess that some of the stuff you recommend is manufactured in china as well. After a while on Amazon, all the options began to blur together and I wasn’t even sure which were credible reviews or authentic products. This one is a slightly modified version just to siphon water: https://www.aliexapress.com/i/32952623939.html?spm=2114.12057483.0.0.465e32dbxx7rhx. Brontosaurus Pet Super Centre features a video on how to use the Aqua One Vac-a-Tank. It will be up to you to decide which is going to be best for you. 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. this product does a wonderful job helping clean out your tank. Thanks a lot! The Aquaneat Aquarium Gravel Cleaner was a near identical design to the Tera Pump, including the same flaws. It is important that you choose the correct size because a gravel vacuum with an opening that is too wide will be difficult to move around your tank. This product is easy to clean with a gravel vacuum which is helpful for the overall health of your tank, as all detritus falling to the bottom of the tank is easily collected with the vacuum. Once successfully unkinking the hose, the angled tube required me to hold the gravel tube on an angle when cleaning gravel, making it difficult to control in smaller tanks. These can be used to clean your gravel and your tank. NICREW Power VAC Plus Automatic Gravel Cleaner, Electric Aquarium Cleaner with Sponge Filter, 3 in 1 Aquarium Vacuum Gravel Cleaner for Medium and Large Tanks, https://www.amazon.ca/NICREW-Automatic-Cleaner-Electric-Aquarium/dp/B07SH5LPMB/?tag=fishlab-20. Perhaps you should mention that these warerchangers most likely are OK for just draining your tank, but to use as a gravel cleaner you need a bit more power. Does the Netherlands have a local fishkeeping community? A gravel vac is a rigid plastic tube, typically 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, attached to a hose. Tape a chopstick or similar to the end of the tube. Despite being electric, the sound given off by the motor was hardly noticeable. It is capable of providing assistance in replacing water, getting rid of algae, sand washing, raking sand as well as in absorbing droppings. You see, the mini-gravel vacuums work exceptionally well at precision vacuuming. When used properly you’ll notice that your fish are much happier and you have to do fewer full water changes. I’ll still have to use buckets to replace water because I’m afraid to use my tap water. The vacuum churns the gravel around inside a column of rotating water, loosening any debris that’s caught in the gravel and siphoning away the dirty, milky water. GO TO AMAZON. It has never compared to any brands that design their own product, so I don’t bother anymore with poorly made generic Chinese products – until feedback in the general aquarium community shifts, I will not be reviewing these generic products again. it’s on ebay….. That’s actually an excellent tip! It’s beginning to feel like you have an agenda. The second one had a better fit, but it still failed to impress with its suction. Quick Compare of Top Vacuum For Sand; 5 Best Vacuum for Sand Reviews . LL Products Gravel Vacuum Cleaner is made for medium to extra-large fish tanks. That doesn’t mean that these were necessarily bad. On my oscar tank and goldfish tank, I do a pretty thorough gravel vac every week during the water change. I gave it. The shortest Python is 25 foot. It will soon become one of your most commonly used pieces of aquarium equipment. I need one bigger than 2″…does nobody make these anymore? Hygger Aquarium Gravel Cleaner, New Quick Water Changer with Air-Pressing Button Fish Tank Sand Cleaner; 2. For instance, their automatic fish feeder is poor and their Preset aquarium heaters are downright dangerous. I have spent hundreds on nicrew products in the past, they have not once performed to the degree where I could recommend them. I used to, but they are over priced and often inferior quality, so now I don’t even waste my time with them. I looked on Amazon and of course it’s there! It’s not the fact that these companies manufacture in China. What really separated them was the build quality – the hosing in particular. Even the sticky pleco poop wasn’t a challenge and was quickly sucked into the vacuum chamber. They all look the same in the pictures, the 40 inch tubes look identical to the 10 inch tubes. While the ridged hose of the Tera Pump might allow it to bend without kinking, it has a serious drawback. Here is my situation – i live in an apartment – the lowest positioned tap i have is just slightly higher than the tank itself. Even though they didn’t make our five best aquarium gravel cleaners list, they’re the best of the best, and each is still a great option for your aquatic life. While this admittedly made cleaning in the corners of the test tank an easier task, the offset location of the hose appeared to catch gravel, requiring manually unclogging it on more than one occasion. Then at least we will have some fair representation of all types. Best All-Around. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing. Poor design and not worth what I paid for. They extract debris from the bottom of the tank to keep the water clean. 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. 6 Best Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner for Gravel & Sand (2020 Reviews) Best Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner. Thanks again. 9.7. Besides, your substrate isn’t going to clean itself – and in my opinion, a gravel vacuum is the easiest way to remove the built-up poop, uneaten fish food, plant debris and other gunk that has fallen between the cracks. You know, the stuff that you pull apart or cut to suit your own filter? With that said, I sincerely hope you like the product and that it meets your expectations. When using a gravel vacuum, you control the flow of water draining from your aquarium by kinking and unkinking the hose. I am done giving them a second chance – as I showed you, it is a product sold under many names by different companies. 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. Thanks for weighing in. Even if you own a small tank, you can purchase the mini Marina Easy Clean and get on with the gravel cleaning process. The Best Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner Options on the Market. While every other gravel cleaner opted for a round vacuum tube, Marina’s Easy Clean Gravel Cleaner went with an oval design. I can’t wait to teach you about the hobby! You choose when to include or exclude at whim. Sand substrates are trickier to test as you don’t actually put the gravel vacuum tube on sand. Best of all, they are manufactured right here in the United States. 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). Best gravel vacuum for large aquariums (55 gallons+) Okay, once we get to this size, a gravel vacuum probably isn’t the right tool for you. 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). The 14 Best Aquarium Gravel Vacuum Cleaners 2020. Content found on fishlab.com is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice. All products reviewed on this site are paid for in full by me. Over time, fish poop, uneaten food, plant debris and other waste fall to the bottom of your tank, getting stuck between the gaps in your substrate and quickly forming a thick sludge. 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 Oscar in question was a notoriously messy eater, with the majority of the food falling to the gravel. You may even be able to get away with running the end of the water changer off your balcony and letting it free fall, using it as a more traditional siphon, avoiding the water waste from the faucet – I’m not sure what’s below your balcony, so this may or may not be an option. Unless your tank bottom is sparsely covered, I found this opening to be too large for precise and effective gravel cleaning. Some hoses, like that of the Python Pro-Clean, were soft and flexible. It’s finally done. The main difference is build quality and size and lengths of tubing, which make the whole experience more personalized for your tank. This inexpensive product will make water changes and aquarium maintenance an easier task – leaving you with more free time to stare at your fish…. The mini size is perfect for your fish bowl and other tiny aquariums. 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. I’ll need three 5G buckets filled for the 55G, but at least I won’t have to empty 3 buckets of water! 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. Great if you're new to the hobby or just want to learn some tips. The standard-sized opening on a gravel vacuum is 1.5 inches (4 cm) and is suitable for aquariums ranging from 5 to 20 gallons. The answer is yes, you can use the best gravel vacuum to remove all the waste and remove the dirty water from the bottom part at the same time.
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