Lee's gravel vac

[fishfever]

I just purchased one of these (medium size) from Carl's store and used it for the first time today. I bought it primarily to have separate cleaning equipment for each tank and wasn't expecting it to be that much different... but after using it I have to say wow! Compared to my old one, it runs rings around it! Not only does it clean better (as indicated by much less floating debris after a cleaning), it took about half the time to do the job with the wider opening and larger flow. It was also very easy to start (no squeezing, just a few up/down strokes). And the little clip is nice also; I used to have problems with the end walking out of the bucket while vacuuming the back of my tall tank while I was focusing on the vacuming task. Probably most of you already use this vac but for someone in the market for one this is one of the best buys out there. A simple but well-designed product in my book, big thumbs up!

[goldenpuon]

It's great that it works so well. I need to go see if Carl has a battery operated gravel vaccum (hopefully not the type that changes water out, I don't like that kind). The one I have now doesn't work well at all and based on what you said, I'm sure the ones he sells will work MUCH better.

Thanks for posting this. I'm definitely going to consider getting one from Carl soon.

[fishfever]

I'm not sure if my old vac was that bad or the Lee's vac is just that good; it's probably a little bit of both. I don't think you need the battery operated one if you get the Lee's; to get it started all you do is immerse it in the tank and move it up and down a few times. With my old one I had to keep squeezing a bulb over and over until the water started to flow which was a pain. I also had to hold/watch the bucket end of the drain line carefully to keep water from going all over the place. The Lee's has a clip that holds the drain line to the bucket so you can focus on the job at hand (you still have to glance at the bucket every now and then to make sure it's not too full!). I just wish I had bought one a long time ago but I figured all vacs are pretty much the same... NOT!

[kagome]

I love my Lee's gravel vac. I also got the attachment kit so that I can attach it a garden hose and run the hose outside so the water drains directly onto my banana tree. This is great for me because when I do my big tank I usually am taking out upwards of 20 gallons so buckets just aren't practical for that one. I've had other gravel vacs in the past but I really do think the Lee's is the best. When I doing the big tank with the garden hose to get it started I leave the hose attached to the spicket, submerge the vacuum, run a little bit of water into the hose and then detach it from the faucet. Gravity pulling the water out of the hose starts the vacuum and so I don't even have to bob the vacuum up and down (I learned that trick from Carl because he's awesome!) It works great for me. I love that even though I have a tank with a large footprint it doesn't take much time at all to get all the gravel clean.

[Carl]

Thanks everyone for the very kind reviews/comments

Renee; I do not sell a Battery Gravel Vacuum as I have yet to find one I would use myself (or others have recommended in the business).
The main reason is the "catch bags" on these vacuums let most of the DOC go by but for the largest debris/sludge.
I prefer to vacuum out of the aquarium, then is additional cleaning is still warranted use a much more efficient re-circulating micron cartridge vacuum such as the Aquarium Cleaning Machine

Carl

[bikeguy33]

for those with large tanks.....i use a ventura to drain and a tap attachment to fill. i also make my own vacuums from cheap supplies i buy at the hardware store. the one i use took 23$ to make but they want 200$ in the store. i have 20 feet of hose attached and my tank is very low. the ventura looks after that. it defies gravity...lol

[fishfever]

I like your venturi idea bikeguy, I may look into this myself some day. To get my tank to drain out a window I'm looking at close to 30 feet with very little gravity drop so some assistance would be needed for sure. If you ever document your "design" I'd be interested in seeing it!

[bikeguy33]

i`ll see what i can do....carl may have pics of this system as well....quite simple actually

[Carl]

Oct 13, 2009 4:02:46 GMT -5 bikeguy33 said:

i`ll see what i can do....carl may have pics of this system as well....quite simple actually

I have a picture in my Aquarium Cleaning article as I never used a Python either, I have been using DIY venturi water change/filling device long before anyone heard of a Python (the venturi was actually first used by the water bed industry for filling and draining and that is where I initially got these from before others in the aquarium industry caught on)
Aquarium Cleaning; DIY Gravel Vacuum



Carl