How to Work a Suction Fish Tank Cleaner

Aquariums must be kept clean for the health and vitality of your fish. Fish waste and excess food fall to the bottom of a fish tank and settle into the gravel. Partial water changes of 10% to 15% of the tank volume should be done weekly to keep the environment clean. Using a suction fish tank cleaner to clean the debris from the bottom of your aquarium allows you to clean the tank and remove water simultaneously.

  1. Gravel Vacuums

    • A gravel vacuum is a plastic, rigid tube with a larger bell-shape on one end. The air suction, or siphoning action, moves the gravel to loosen any debris on or below it. Debris is lifted from the tank and carried out to a disposal area. The four main types of gravel vacuums include manual, shake, hand-pump and battery-operated models.

    Materials Needed

    • Suction fish tank cleaners rely on a disposal method. One type extrudes the water and debris, and forces it through a long tube down a sink drain or into your toilet. Models with shorter tubing need a large bucket in which the drain tube is placed for debris collection. A five-gallon bucket will hold a sufficient amount of water before you need to pour it out.

    Starting the Siphon

    • To start a siphon manually, set a five-gallon bucket on the floor next to the fish tank. Hold up the smaller end of the tube up and suck on it to start a siphon. Immediately turn the tube down into the bucket when you see the water approaching your mouth on the end of the tube.

      For a shake vacuum, place a five-gallon bucket near the aquarium base. Hold the small end of the siphon tube pointing up directly over the bucket. Place the vacuum end into the tank and shake it vigorously up and down three or four times until the tube starts filling with water, then quickly place the tube into the bucket.

      For battery-operated models, place the small end in a large bucket or into a toilet or sink for disposal. Press the ̶0;On̶1; button to start suctioning your tank.

    Cleaning Method

    • As soon as your suction is started, place the large bell end of the vacuum into the bottom of your aquarium over the gravel. Hold the tube so it is vertical. When the water suctioning through the tube is clear, place your thumb over the bucket end of the tubing to stop the flow in the cleaner. Gently lift the siphon tube out of the gravel and move it over to an adjacent section of the tank. Lower the tube gently into the gravel and remove your finger from the small end to resume the suction. Continue this method to clean the gravel in sections. Do not move the siphon up and down or quickly across the gravel, as this tends to stir up the debris throughout all of the water.

    Stopping the Siphon

    • If you are using a five-gallon bucket for collection of water and debris, you must stop the siphon before the bucket overflows. Place your thumb over the small end of the tubing to stop the siphoning action. It is easier at this point to have a helper dump the bucket of dirty water and debris for you while you keep the end of the cleaner tube covered with your thumb. If you do not have a helper, Keep your thumb on the small end of the tubing and lift the large end from the aquarium. Remove your thumb and allow the water to flow into the bucket, then dispose of the water.

      If gravel extracts into the siphon hose, place your thumb on the small end of the tube and lift the large end of the cleaner from the tank. This allows the gravel to fall back down into the aquarium bottom.