Most powerful electic or batter powered gravel vac/cleanrer???

duganderson · 12/06/2018, 02:42 PM

Curious if any of the electric or battery powered gravel cleaners have enough power to be valuable. Which one do you like best?

Anyone used the
https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-Automa.../dp/B07K6CSY9P

I like how you can divert water back to the tank OR divert water to a bucket to allow easy cleanings between water changes

mcgyvr · 12/06/2018, 02:57 PM

Got sand?
If so forget about it

Those work well for freshwater gravel but are just junk for sand setups from my experience.. If its long enough gravity will eventually take over but quite often those just suck all the sand right out of your tank and are just a PITA..
Then its a "pick the right filter to allow crap through but block sand" and its just a mess..

I let natures animals take care of my sand..

lapin · 12/06/2018, 03:24 PM

The issue you have is the same as old vac's for the home. The motor sits in the middle between the surface to be cleaned and the dirt exit. You suck stuff into the motor fan. Some newer vacs have the motor after the bag/filter. Look at spa pool vacs if you want a lot of power. Some are electric and some work on the garden hose principal. ( forcing water into it and out thru a sock. It works by forcing a siphon to occur. You can make your own out of a some pvc, a powerhead and a sock.
Something similar to this
http://www.poolsupplymall.com/spa-cl...-hose-adapter/

jrill · 12/06/2018, 06:14 PM

Check out harbour freight

Natereef · 12/09/2018, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duganderson

Curious if any of the electric or battery powered gravel cleaners have enough power to be valuable. Which one do you like best?

Anyone used the
https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-Automa.../dp/B07K6CSY9P

I like how you can divert water back to the tank OR divert water to a bucket to allow easy cleanings between water changes

I bought this one and used it in my 12 gallon jbj https://www.amazon.com/Koller-Produc...gravel+cleaner

It barely even has enough power to suck water up if you have it fully extended.

capecodder · 12/11/2018, 10:28 AM

Anyone ever tried just a plain old wet vac? Never have myself, just curious. Those things suck up water and rocks off a basement floor.

ReefsandGeeks · 12/11/2018, 12:00 PM

wet dry vac sounds like a nightmare to me. They don't pull that much vacuum pressure, so likely would be a pain to start the siphon, then with such a large hose would siphon at a huge flowrate, quickly filling up the dryvac with water, sand, rock, fish, or anything else that gets in the way.

Personally, I just use a bit of 1/2" or 5/8" tubing and siphon into a filter bag. I use a 100 micron mesh bag and it works great. I do end up sucking up alot of sand when trying to get the big stuff off the sandbed, but it all collects in the bag, then I dump it in a bucket, and give the old rinse-drain-repeat method a few times and put the sand back in the tank. Easy peasy. Clean my whole 150 gallon in maybe 20 minutes with no tools other than a bucket, a bag, a hose, and a basement sink. Do it about once a month if needed.

Kevin Guthrie · 12/12/2018, 12:02 PM

I use my old magnum canister filter and attach a python hose with one of those really wide wands. Even with the wide wand I have to valve down the flow to avoid sucking up sand. Also helps if you have an extra filter as you have to wash the gunk out.

reefwiser · 12/12/2018, 12:04 PM

Yes, a canister filter is the best I have one just of bottom cleaning of the aquarium.

12/06/2018, 02:42 PM	#1
duganderson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 569	Most powerful electic or batter powered gravel vac/cleanrer??? Curious if any of the electric or battery powered gravel cleaners have enough power to be valuable. Which one do you like best? Anyone used the https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-Automa.../dp/B07K6CSY9P I like how you can divert water back to the tank OR divert water to a bucket to allow easy cleanings between water changes

12/06/2018, 02:57 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Got sand? If so forget about it Those work well for freshwater gravel but are just junk for sand setups from my experience.. If its long enough gravity will eventually take over but quite often those just suck all the sand right out of your tank and are just a PITA.. Then its a "pick the right filter to allow crap through but block sand" and its just a mess.. I let natures animals take care of my sand.. __________________ Who me?

12/06/2018, 03:24 PM	#3
lapin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Austin Posts: 801	The issue you have is the same as old vac's for the home. The motor sits in the middle between the surface to be cleaned and the dirt exit. You suck stuff into the motor fan. Some newer vacs have the motor after the bag/filter. Look at spa pool vacs if you want a lot of power. Some are electric and some work on the garden hose principal. ( forcing water into it and out thru a sock. It works by forcing a siphon to occur. You can make your own out of a some pvc, a powerhead and a sock. Something similar to this http://www.poolsupplymall.com/spa-cl...-hose-adapter/ __________________ Tank sizes, 2-10's a 55 and one that's about 500gal Current Tank Info: Interior decorating happening

12/12/2018, 12:04 PM	#9
reefwiser Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Louisville,Kentucky Posts: 1,208	Yes, a canister filter is the best I have one just of bottom cleaning of the aquarium. __________________ President Louisville Marine Aquarium Society. http://www.lmas.org/ The 3rd Annual Frag swap will be held September 23rd,2017 11 am till 3pm Saint Thomas Fellowship hall,9616 Westport Road,Louisvi

12/06/2018, 06:14 PM	#4
jrill Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 54	Check out harbour freight

12/11/2018, 10:28 AM	#6
capecodder Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 32	Anyone ever tried just a plain old wet vac? Never have myself, just curious. Those things suck up water and rocks off a basement floor.

12/11/2018, 12:00 PM	#7
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	wet dry vac sounds like a nightmare to me. They don't pull that much vacuum pressure, so likely would be a pain to start the siphon, then with such a large hose would siphon at a huge flowrate, quickly filling up the dryvac with water, sand, rock, fish, or anything else that gets in the way. Personally, I just use a bit of 1/2" or 5/8" tubing and siphon into a filter bag. I use a 100 micron mesh bag and it works great. I do end up sucking up alot of sand when trying to get the big stuff off the sandbed, but it all collects in the bag, then I dump it in a bucket, and give the old rinse-drain-repeat method a few times and put the sand back in the tank. Easy peasy. Clean my whole 150 gallon in maybe 20 minutes with no tools other than a bucket, a bag, a hose, and a basement sink. Do it about once a month if needed.

12/12/2018, 12:02 PM	#8
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	I use my old magnum canister filter and attach a python hose with one of those really wide wands. Even with the wide wand I have to valve down the flow to avoid sucking up sand. Also helps if you have an extra filter as you have to wash the gunk out.