12-17-2004, 09:26 AM manki. Inspiration for this device is obvious: SERA Gravel Cleaner which uses an air-pump (not included) to drive dirt above water surface level and gravity ... DIY Automatic Gravel Vacuum Cleaner DIY CO2 System Internal Filter … Fold the sock down over the rubber band. There! A regular gravel vacuum attachment. What do you recommend for gallons per hour? DIY Air-Lift Pump (Version1) Experiment: Experimenting a DIY Air-Lift Pump (Version 1)A pump is a device drawing energy (electricity) to transport liquid where as compressor is to transport air, converting energy to fluid as pressure so that they could move or flow within a confine or limi… It's still important to change the water in the tank. I mean, every gravel vacuum both sucked water and removed sludge from the gravel to some degree. If you have a bigger rubber band, wrap it around a couple of times. DIY Water Pump Gravel Vacuum. What you will need:-Some plastic tubing, not to long, about a metre or so.-A Coca-Cola bottle or something like it. I have made holes in soda lids by burning through them with a glue gun tip. If the tube on the powerhead inlet is the same size as the one for your gravel vac you can skip the next part. A very handy piece of aquarium equipment is a gravel vac. first try did it though thanks! The powerhead won't work if air gets into it so carefully push the vacuum and tube into the water and get all of the air … Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. Mine required three pieces of tubing (small, medium, and large) pushed together. A gravel vacuum is a great tool for getting rid of aquarium debris. Cut a piece one to two feet long. Gently run the end of your vacuum tube over the surface of your gravel… Find a size that fits over the outlet (probably not the same size) and cut a piece 3 inches long. If you had a log enough hose, you could put the end outside! Go to your aquarium and put a bucket on the floor in front of the aquarium, place the Gravel Vac into the aquarium, and try to get all the air bubbles out of the inside, I suggest putting it in horizontally and tilting it up to remove them. I just did about a 30% water exchange yesterday. Maybe, you have a drill bit that can do the work for you. Tip This method is not as water tight as an adapter but the tubes will be inside the tank anyway. But they can be expensive, so I'm going to show you how to make a gravel vac for a very little sum! super fun... exacto blade did the job just fine. Screw the cap onto the bottle, and you will have something that closely resembles a Gravel Vac that you would buy from the shops, for a few dollars! They are useful for getting debris out of the gravel at the bottom of your tank. The powerhead won't work if air gets into it so carefully push the vacuum and tube into the water and get all of the air out of the hose. Plastic tubing of various sizes. An old sock. Our DIY gravel vacuum has become a popular project for the aquarium owner. No need for water change. I came up with this powered vacuum using old parts from past aquariums. Free delivery and returns on eBay Plus items for Plus members. 9 years ago Make a Manual Vacuum Pump for Under $20 by Converting a Bicycle Pump: A vacuum pump is just an air pump that you use for sucking rather than blowing. I was surprised that the most popular gravel vacuum sold on Amazon.com, Tera Pump … I saved quite a bit of money using this. if you use tubing that is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the neck of the bottle, you can cut the tube at an extreme angle, and stick the tip thru and thenpull it thru with plyers to make a very tight fit. 13. An old powerhead (pump) with a magnetic impeller. Its versatile and highly customizable, allowing the aquarist to take their time while cleaning the substrate of their aquarium. Watch Queue Queue. But they can be expensive, so I'm going to show you how to make a gravel … Share it with us! Thanks, Reply It seems like all their food accumulated at the bottom and it would seem that the filter isn't doing its job even though I rinsed it yesterday. It needs to be about a metre long, or about 3 feet. regards, 9 years ago bottle selection could be important also choose carefully. Vacuum Pump From Aquarium Air Pump: This is a re-publish of a poorly done instructable that I posted a while back. search; AQUATIC-videos. ). The small stuff doesn't hurt the powerhead but the bigger chunks will clog it up. Saved from youtube.com. I take NO responsibility if you hurt yourself while doing this step. also another question, does this take a lot of water from the tank or just a little ammount? A rubber band. Cool! Slide the sock covered rubber band over the outlet tube on the powerhead. I'm going to make one of these, since I have a 29 gal tank and a plain suction vacuum just doesn't work that well. I used an old sock that is fairly tighly knit sythetic material. This keeps the hose from stretching too much where it fits on the powerhead. 9 years ago Find a coke bottle and cut it around the part near the bottom of the label, or a little lower or higher depending on the size of your aquarium. The gravel vac probably came with it's own tubing but if you don't want to cut the tubing, find another piece the same diameter. Ornaments, That Smell Like Christmas and Will Warm Your Heart. Have no idea what they mean until you get it to work for the first time. I used an aluminum mesh that has fairly small holes and hold it's shape pretty well when formed into a dished shape. My local aquarium shop had some that I presume was for filters. Reinforced PVC hose, 6 mm inner diameter. Thanks for this. I think you should not buy a vacuum pump for doing small projects. I use the highest flow setting but a more powerful pump might need to be used at a lower setting. Reply You dont want a smelly tank! This video is unavailable. Pop the gravel vac off the hose and rinse in the bucket when it's too grungy. Air volume is more important than great pressure. 2. Sound reduction by duvet Vacuum pump in operation. on Introduction. DIY Super Gravel Vac Style Super Gravel Vacuum Please click pictures to enlarge This is a DIY Super Gravel Vacuum using 5/8" ID Aquarium Tubing OR a sterile garden hose (5/8"), a Less 10" or other Gravel Vacuum, some duct tape for wrapping around the end of the Vacuum tubing for a better fit, a Lees Water Pump and Faucet Adapter. Thank you! http://shopping.yahoo.com/components/large_image;_ylt=AgBOccbpf3MSYjBixyFAg6lIu8EF?id=736680072, could you do me a favor and open up your pump ? Share it with us! 99 (£12.99/Stück) nice instructable, simple and effective :) Reply my guppies make an awful mess that smells after a week or so, how often would you remccomend using this? Transform an aquarium air pump to create a weak vacuum This type of pump will only produce a weak vacuum but I use it for positioning electronic components and de-solde… I added a prefilter to catch the big chunks in the gravel vac. The vacuuming only removes the solid waste, not the build up of nitrates and other dissolved nutrients. Flange screw M3. Shop with Afterpay on eligible items. Fabric Crafts. It’s just that, based on testing, FishLab’s top picks are better. :), 8 years ago 27 days ago I certainly didn’t know much about using a proper type of aquarium gravel cleaner like a fish tank vacuum. 99 (£13.99/Stück) £14.99 £14.99 You will need to mark the size of the tubing on the top of the lid, and make a hole with a sharp knife. No need for water change. DIY gravel vacuum with air pump Finally, if none of the above vacuums appeal to your fancy, you can always opt for a DIY gravel vacuum. One tip though: Rather than sucking, which inevitably results in drinking the water(!! Drain the power head and hose and store disconnected. DOCEAN Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Vacuum Siphon Pump with Air-Pressing Button,Multifunctional Gravel Cleaner Water Filter for Water Changing,Sand Washing, Absorption of Feces 4.1 out of 5 stars 176 £13.99 £ 13 . 1. Thanks jt. Convert a 12V air compressor into a vacuum pump. Either way, I figured there was no need to clean the gravel, especially with a vacuum cleaner. Thanks!! I also can't seem to find one that has both a tube for an input (suction for the vacuum end) and an output (discharge for the sock end). I keep removing more and more of the decorations & small stones from the tank. Article Summary X. Extension nipple from Sclaverand to Dunlop valve: Flange screw M3 and M3 nut. Drill a hole in the top of a plastic bottle and cut off the bottom. I've had these since the mid 80's when I bought my whole aquarium used. 5 in1 Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Water Change Algae Scraper Fish Tank Sand Wash Pump Kit with Air-Pressing Button and Adjustable Water Flow Controller Clamp for Fish Tank Siphon Vacuum Gravel Cleaning 4.0 out of 5 stars 129 Penis Pumps DIY: Make your own flared gravel vacuum cylinder! How to turn your ordinary syphon into an air-pump driven Automatic Gravel Vacuum Cleaner for aquariums. Fine metal mesh, like window screen. I'll let you know how I did. 2 years ago The prefilter will probably get dirty enough to reduce suction while you are cleaning. Thanks for the inspiration! Turn the sock inside out and rinse out the gunk. Use this when you want to change your tank water. The concept here is simple, pull water though the filter wand with a powerhead pump and return that water back into the aquarium free of debris. He gave me some for free. Your idea is not bad at all, but it will work quite better if instead of using a power head, you use the inlet of a canister filter, mainly because there´s no risk of getting shocked by electricity leaking from the submerged power head. Follow the steps outlined below and be assured of great results in maintaining a clean and beautiful aquarium. Sam. I looked at battery powered vacuums but the high prices and poor reviews made me reconsider. They are useful for getting debris out of the gravel at the bottom of your tank. Ornaments, That Smell Like Christmas and Will Warm Your Heart. … Categories: DIY. I cant stress this enough, be careful when performing this step! So, it is time for yet another Do-It-Yourself. Explore. Make a pump-powered vacuum to easily clean your aquarium! Trends! The parts you need are:
Categories; Tags; Categories Insert a male riser into the bottle top, a female adapter into the other side of the male riser and a piece of PVC pipe in the female adapter. ), place the entire tube and bottle into the water until it fills up, then once it has, place your thump over the tube end (still underwater), and then take out that end, place it over your bucket, and remove your thump. 4 years ago, hi, submerged power heads are supposed to be water proof. Required parts. For how much water it takes, it depends on the size of the bottle, make it a little larger if you have a big tank, or make it small if you have a little tank, make sure there is enough round plastic for the gravel though. It either sucks up the gravel and the debris or nothing at all. Don't discard the bottle lid, It is useful for the next step! This airlift pump design may seem like a poor man’s pump, but there are some advantages over other pumps. Get the best deals on Aquarium Cleaning Gravel Vacuums Equipment. Question But way easier than puncturing through one and trying to cut a round hole! Find a piece of tubing that fits tightly around the inlet of the powerhead. I use the highest flow setting but a more powerful pump might need to be used at a lower setting. Product details. There's no tube! saves needed to buy one When you're done vacuuming, discontect the hose and dump any accumulated sand from the hose back into the tank (if your tank has sand) and slip the sock off the outlet tube. Rinse it thoroughly before use to remove any detergent or fabric softener residue. Well instructed! Kids, ask your parents to do this for you. DIY Tank.. this will do away with the cap all together. on Step 5, since you already put the entire hose into the tank, it's enough to close one end of the hose with your finger (or just squeeze the hose) and once the hose is over the bucket just let go, 11 years ago Great idea! Can you recommend a pump for me on ebay? 1.A. This provides more surface area to collect chunky stuff. Get some plastic tubing. 2 years ago. could you possibly give me the brand and model ? DIY And Crafts. Then lower the powerhead into the water and connect the hose. on Step 5, epic thanks for the instructable gonna make it in a min. Jan 14, 2018 - How To Make: DIY Gravel Vacuum (Aquarium Gravel Cleaner) - YouTube Nov 23, 2013 - How to turn your ordinary syphon into an air-pump driven Automatic Gravel Vacuum Cleaner for aquariums. Today it looks worse. I could never seem to get my tank clean without removing most of the water. Shop today! Read the above instructions, and try them out. Now that you have the background, here is how to use a gravel vacuum like a boss. Did you make this project? If it doesn't stay in place, make the rubber band tighter. Make Your Own Gravel Vacuum for Your Aquarium: A very handy piece of aquarium equipment is a gravel vac. Aquarium Gravel Cleaner, New Quick Water Changer with Air-Pressing Button Fish Tank Sand Cleaner Kit Aquarium Siphon Vacuum Cleaner with Water Hose Controller Clamp 4.0 out of 5 stars 150 £20.99 £ 20 . on Introduction. Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Fish Tank Siphon Vacuum for Water Changer Filter Sand Cleaning Kit Tools with Air-Pressing Button and Water Hose Controller Clamp- BPA Free 3.6 out of 5 … on Introduction, Hi Starburst. You can convert an old-fashioned "floor pump" ("bike pump") into a vacuum pump that can take over 75 percent of the air … i wanna see what your magnetic impeller looks like pls . Did you make this project? on Introduction, I can't take a photo of my impeller right now but here is one that looks just like it. Get yourself a good air compressor. They are very cheap and can be made fairly easily by creating the vacuum line and connecting it to a power head. Cheap and simple. Your not supposed to clean out the filter, 5 years ago How often do you change your tank water, I would recommend using it about once a week if it gets smelly. DOCEAN Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Vacuum Siphon Pump with Air-Pressing Button,Multifunctional Gravel Cleaner Water Filter for Water Changing,Sand Washing, Absorption of Feces 4.1 out of 5 stars 193 £12.99 £ 12 . If the tubes are not the same size, you can buy an adapter at the hardware store or you can slide one tube inside the other. Uniquely designed rake bottom scoop uncovers dirt in gravel for easy vacuum pickup. DIY: Make your own flared gravel vacuum cylinder! Have you ever vacuumed your tank and run out of water before you run out of crud? on Introduction. Clothes. Then, go to the opposite end, place it over the bucket, and suck until water flows out. Or use the bottle as a funnel to fill the aquarium after! I'm going to try this because I need this done today. Although a "gentle" vacuum is slower than a normal vacuum, it's great for small tanks, quarantine or hospital tanks, and tanks with fry, small fish, or sick fish. I like to keep a bucket with a couple of inches of water next to the tank. Watch Queue Queue If you’d like to make your own vacuum chamber, start by finding a mason jar to use as your chamber, and a vacuum pump to help remove the air from inside it. Of course, I was about 11 years old at the time, so you can forgive my ignorance about these things. And this vacuum pump can do almost all kind of vacuum pump job except commercial use such as the medical sector, food sector, etc. 4 years ago, they died im assuming? on Step 2, Hi I ran across this while trying to find out what powerhead I have, to get replacement impellers, the one your using look identical to mine minus the flow director that slips over the oval air inlet. Vacuum pump with timer Crank shaft and piston. if you get shocked meants that the seals have worn, time for a replacement, 5 years ago I placed the disc of mesh with the concave side facing the outlet hole so that the mesh was not pressed right against the hole. All of them have a discharge hole for the sock end but they just have a giant grill on them to suck the water in. I used an automobile air conditioner pump with great success but it did pump oil, and that isn’t good. oh and rule of thumb is to cut small and stuff the hose into. and you should post a video of you using it. 11 years ago Question The powerhead usually has a flow adjuster. Will this suck up the gravel as well or will the gravel just circulate around in the bottle? You amy have to try a couple of different socks to find one that works best. Place the rubber band around the sock near the top. Warning. You now have a functioning gravel vac! This is a Do It Yourself project that allows you to flare out the end of your gravel vacuum siphon very neatly so it no longer digs into your skin (ouch! Cheap and simple. on Introduction, I'm looking on Ebay to buy a submersible pump right now. Its nearly done. To connect the pump to the chamber, trace a rubber stopper on top of the jar’s lid so you can cut out a hole. The pennplax air-vac attaches to any aquarium air-pump for fast gravel cleaning. Navigation. If it leaves behind plastic, you then can trim it off. Just spend few bucks to buy the above-mentioned tools and turn your existing air compressor into a vacuum pump. on Step 3.