How to Make Aquarium Cleaner Out of a Waterbed Drain Kit

Cleaning your aquarium is one of the less enjoyable parts of keeping fish or reptiles as pets. Handheld gravel cleaners work well, but require frequent stopping to pour out dirty water and replace the water you̵7;ve removed. Fortunately, you can make a low-cost aquarium cleaner using a waterbed drain kit, a garden hose, and a few simple attachments, allowing you to clean, drain and refill your aquarium with less fuss and mess.

Things You'll Need

  • Garden hose
  • Waterbed drain kit
  • Shut-off valve
  • Female hose coupler
  • Screwdriver
  • Gravel cleaner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach the female end (the end with the coupler) of your garden hose to the side of the waterbed drain kit sink attachment. Do not over-tighten.

    • 2

      Screw a shut-off valve to the other end of your garden hose.

    • 3

      Attach a female hose coupler to the hose of your gravel cleaner by pushing the coupler into the hose, then closing the outer clamp around the hose. Screw the tightening screw on the clamp with a screwdriver until the coupler is secure.

    • 4

      Screw the new end of the gravel cleaner to the shut-off valve.

    • 5

      Attach the waterbed drain kit sink attachment to the faucet, flip the shut-off valve lever to the ̶0;off̶1; position by twisting it so it is perpendicular to the garden hose, and then place the end of the gravel attachment into your aquarium.

    • 6

      Twist slightly on the bottom piece of the waterbed drain kit sink attachment and pull down on it so the water will flow through the attachment into the sink, rather than into the hose. Turn the water on and adjust the temperature to match the water temperature in your aquarium.

    • 7

      Push up on the bottom piece of the waterbed drain kit attachment and turn slightly to force water through the hose. Flip the shut-off valve lever to ̶0;on̶1; by twisting it until it̵7;s parallel with the hose. The water will flow through the gravel cleaner into the aquarium.

    • 8

      Drain the water in the aquarium and clean gravel by fully submerging the gravel cleaner attachment, and then pulling down on the bottom piece of the waterbed drain kit sink attachment and turning slightly so the water drains from the bottom of the attachment into the sink. The water from the faucet must remain on during the draining and cleaning process.