HOB gravel vac

Following Ferryman's request ... http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showpost.php?p=62729&postcount=5



Played with it in several tanks .. does not lift sand - snails do not get trapped - seems to work OK .. only thing that needs some work is the filter media .. batting needs frequent cleaning.

 

Ferdie, that is a great idea! Have you used this a lot?
The other benefit, of using the conventional way, is that you can do it in conjunction with water changes. I suggest, to make a S-hook, out of a wire coat-hanger, to hang the waste water bucket, just level with the bottom of the tank, to reduce suction.
Great Idea again!
Gert

 

or use a wider vacuum pipe (mouth )

 

Hi f-fish, talking of gravel, just want to find out what substrate you've got there? I have riversand, which is quite fine. Yours looks really 'chunky' and rocky... very beautiful.

 

The beauty about using the HOB, as that most of these filters, have a flow control, that can be adjusted, to prevent it from sucking in the sand etc....

 

Madam .. this is "sea pebble" you are correct it is chunky. I also tried the vac on my fine filter silica tank .. and Gert is correct the cool thing is you can control the flow via the HOB (Well this Atman allows me to do so.) This actually worked better in the sand tank because of the control ... If I use the normal gravel vac during a WC I loose allot of sand substrate since I have > 1.5 meter drop between the tank substrate and the bottom of my siphon hose outside.

Gert I have honestly only played with it today after pondering Ferryman's request. If you are not big on doing regular gravel vacs then I think this is not the solution - filter blocks with loads debris, but for a quick mid-week vac without a WC ... could be an option.

 

What an excellent Idea!

Even If the Gravel does get sucked up, it gets trapped in the chamber.

The only problem would be clogged media. Replacing it with a porous sponge could help.

This is my new method of cleaning my substrate!