Gravel vacuum upgrade

[fishfever]

I just purchased a couple of new nets as part of my plan to keep separate common items for each tank. I only have one gravel vac so I am thinking of adding at least 1 or 2 more. Although the one I have now is functional (I'm not sure where we got it from, my wife purchased it) there are some shortcomings such as having to squeeze it repeatedly to get it going and being a bit too short when vacuuming the back of the deepest tank we have. A number of times I have missed the bucket because the end had to be raised a lot higher than the bucket due to the lack of length.

So I have seen but not really researched these vacs that attach to a sink with a real long hose and can both fill and drain from the sink. For filling I suppose one adds dechlorinator to the tank prior to filling and tries to match the tank temp as closely as possible before starting so don't see these as problems. But I do have a couple of questions/concerns for anyone who uses one of these:

1) Does one have to run back and forth to the sink (I suppose only once if done right) to switch from from drain to fill?

2) I have seen 25 and 50 ft versions. Is the 50 ft version just a 25 ft with an extension? (I would greatly prefer a continuous length to avoid leaks.)

3) How does it manage drain when it doesn't have gravity working for it like a normal vac?

4) Can it attach to any water spout? The only sink I would be allowed to use is the one in the laundry room which has a detachable combo sprayer/spout about 2 inches in diameter. Would prefer not to have to change the spout to make this work.

Our laundry sink is about 40 feet away from the tank I plan to use with this and the path is over expensive hardwood flooring so whatever system I use must be leak-free. Although the bucket method is old-fashioned, I have full control and can see everything so any drips are contained (and I have an absorbent mat or 2 underneath the work area). If I can't make a system like this work I'll probably just get some more regular vacs but longer in length and maybe one with a battery powered pump.

[murdock6701]

I am fortunate to gave a window nwareby my tanks and a 25' vacuum hose as well as shorter versions - the window is just outside a terraced garden - makes it easy - carrying water to the tank is a little more difficult - have you even considered a snall rubber wheeled wagon with side to avoid spillage - I use gallon and a 1/2 plastic ice cream containers for clean water - easy to lift and not sloppy - all used equ0ment gos in diswasher withiut soap when done - top shelf of course to avoid melting - have sphons for each tank as well as seperate nets - they all go in the dishwasher after use - so do my hob filters....just a thought

[Carl]

These gravel vacuums attached to the sink have been popular for some time, I have been using a DIY version long before the over priced Python hit the market.
I simply used the "pump" that fit onto the sink, a gravel vacuum, sometimes an adapter and then a hose of varying length.
See this article where I have a picture of the DIY vacuum (vastly cheaper to make, and just as good):
Aquarium Cleaning; DIY Vacuum, Python

These work by using water pressure to create a vacuum, even uphill, the base can opened to drain and closed to fill.
There were times that I used these vacuums, especially in big tanks, but other times I preferred to either use a bucket or drain outdoors (or into a toilet or bucket) so as to trap or check discharge (especially with tanks that may have fry).

I also in recent years (more so those working with my Aquarium Maintenance business), I/we will use the Aquarium Cleaning Machine for draining and cleaning and use a simple attachment on the sink only for filling (and adjusting temperature for filling)
This machine allows for better DOC removal resulting in lower nitrates and a more stable pH and even some Redox improvement as well.

Back to filling, when not using a bucket (which I/we still use), I simply add the Prime, Start Right, etc in increments while the tank is filling. If pH shock is a possibility, I also add buffers during this time in increments as well.

See this article for much more about this subject:
Aquarium Cleaning

Carl

[fishfever]

Murdock, I currently have a 5g bucket on wheels to bring fresh water to the tanks that works pretty well. I thought about using a window too for draining but the tank is in the center of the house, a good ways away from all windows. If I made a long enough run to the window I doubt the water would actually drain out even if I elevated the drain line since the angle would be so shallow.

Carl, the DIY vacuum looks interesting although I have had problems with leaky garden fittings (but usually worn ones, not new). But I still think I could live with small leaks at the sink (since it will drip into the sink if I make a drip loop) and I can watch the other possible joint for leaks at the tank where I'm working. The big problem, and I even called Lee's to verify this, is the faucet adapter will only fit about 5 standard faucets. Anything custom like our Moen combo sprayer cannot be made to work without changing the whole fixture out. And I don't really want to change the faucet since the sprayer (which I just press a button on the head to switch to spray) does an oustanding job of cleaning aquarium pipes, filter boxes, etc with a strong, hot spray (plus my wife wouldn't want me to change it either).

So I'll probably just add another gravel vac or 2 (with at least one of them longer than the one I have, possibly with a battery-powered pump(s) for easier starting).

[Carl]

You can purchase different adapters at plumbing hardware stores for the faucet pump part to adapt to more/different faucets, but this requires the temporary removal of the aerator on the faucet.
This is the only part that leaks water (it has to by virtue of how it works), however if properly made the other parts are 100% leak proof, it had to be since I maintained aquariums in offices where the client would not be too happy with water puddles.

Be careful with battery vacuums as these are not very efficient at all, The Aquarium Cleaning Machine does a much better job, although it is not meant for filling, only cleaning and discharge (which can be discharged out the door, into a toilet, etc.).
The only negative with the Cleaning Machine is that the first use definitely requires laying down some heavy towels or placing the machine in a large plastic tub. I need to note that this is primarily the first time as I and others found that there is a short learning curve and I (& others) rarely made any mess setting it up or tearing it down after a few uses.

Carl

[babygeige]

I have one of the python setups that you see at the store. It works well, but it can be awkward at times. For instance, it is kind of hard to get a good temperature match. And if I think I have a good match, I will start the flow into the hose and run into the den to put the hose in the tank. If I've had a hard time getting the fitting tight enough on the faucet to keep it from spraying everywhere when the water pressure increases between me getting to the sink and the tank. And then when I get the water going into the tank and figure out that the temp doesn't match well, I either have to figure out a way to keep the hose in the tank while I run back to the sink or turn it back off, which increases the pressure at the sink again and can spray around the fitting. Or if I happen to have an extra person nearby, I can get them to adjust the water at the sink for me.

I will say this: I have the 25 foot version and there are a couple of spots where there are pieces attached together but fittings, but I have never had them leak onto our hardwood hall floor.

I honestly don't use it unless I am plannning on doing a big water change, like 50%. For my usual weekly 25% WC's, I just use a bucket. It is more easier than running back and forth with buckets, but it has its downsides too.

[fishfever]

BG, this is exactly the kind of real-world feedback I was looking for, thanks! I sort of figured if you could get the temperature fairly close and wasn't doing a really big change it wouldn't matter so much. But most likely as you say you are going to be doing a pretty large change if you are going to use it in the first place to save work. Since my faucet is kind of a custom one with combo sprayer it doesn't look very practical to hook up. Although next time we have a plumber do something in our house I'll ask about getting a separate hook-up at the laundry sink that will be fully compatible with the fittings. It's still probably alot easier to control the temperature, salinity and pH (if using pH buffer) doing it the old-fashioned way. I just bought a Lee's gravel vac and that has made a big improvement over my old no-name vac so for now I'm quite satisifed with that upgrade and won't be doing anything new for a while..

[Carl]

Oct 14, 2009 14:08:29 GMT -5 babygeige said:

If I've had a hard time getting the fitting tight enough on the faucet to keep it from spraying everywhere when the water pressure increases between me getting to the sink and the tank. And then when I get the water going into the tank and figure out that the temp doesn't match well, I either have to figure out a way to keep the hose in the tank while I run back to the sink or turn it back off, which increases the pressure at the sink again and can spray around the fitting.

I use (as does the current owner of my aquarium service business) a suction holder attached to the return hose to keep it in place.

In cases of poor connections with sinks (not often occurring for me, but it still happened and was unacceptable to make in mess of a clients office/home), I simply rapped a rag around the connection at the sink, any leaks would then not spray but drip harmlessly back into the sink.

See the section about DIY Gravel Vacuum systems in this article for more:
Aquarium Cleaning; DIY Python

Carl