FishProfiles.com Message Forums

My gravel vac I can finally clean the gravel in my fish tank~but I don't know how to use it. . .*sigh
Here is a link to the exact product from petco.com: oh dangit I can't post links stupid computer. . .ok. . .um well if you go to petco.com under fish and maintenance, tis the Profile Gravel Vac Battery Operated High Performance Aquarium Cleaner for 20$ if you want to know the exact product. Can someone tell me how you use it exactly? I have about fifty attachments in front of me with like no instructions. . .

Fish are like potato chips. . .you can't have just one

A gravel vac. You won't know yourself. You are going to LOVE it once you get it up and running. And the forumites will give you some pointers so hang in there!

Lotsa attachments? I don't know that sort. Mine's not a high tech one, just a flexible tube with a rigid pipe on the end. So I cant' tell you exactly how to use it but here are my tips.

* submerge so that the unit fills then place the outlet hose into a bucket outside the tank (on floor or chair) to catch the water/silt. Get a syphon going and the silt will go down the hose and the heavy gravel will fall back to the tank

* I read the info online and it can be used without the batteries too. (use it in the above method)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Petco

Seems straightforward from the directions on the site:

The Ideal Aquarium Cleaner

Profile Gravel Vac is a battery-operated, motorized aquarium cleaner that thoroughly cleans the aquarium gravel without having to remove the fish from the tank. Designed to answer all your aquarium cleaning needs, Profile Gravel Vac is an innovative product that eliminates the drawbacks common to conventional aquarium cleaning devices.

* Built-in, low voltage, battery operated unit cleans even without batteries.
* The adjustable tube allows Profile Gravel Vac to operate in any size tank.
* Three nozzle attachments meet all tank cleaning needs, from removing algae to cleaning gravel in hard-to-reach areas. The attachments can be connected and disconnected with a single operation.
* The net collects small particles. Attached with a rubber band, it can be easily removed for cleaning.
* The switch, battery case, and motor housing are waterproof.

The Profile Gravel Vac includes three nozzle attachments to clean corners and hard-to-reach areas: algae scraper attachment, crevice nozzle attachment, and suction nozzle attachment. These attachments combine with the innovative features of the Profile Gravel Vac to produce the most versatile aquarium cleaner you can buy.

* Screen design prevents gravel entry. The suction nozzle incorporates a screen design which prevents gravel from passing through the tube. Only unwanted particles are removed.
* Cleans right into the corners. The suction nozzle has a 90 degree angled corner for thoroughly cleaning the corners of the tank.
* Easily cleans hard-to-remove algae. Simply change the suction nozzle to the algae scraper attachment to easily remove algae without scraping the glass or acrylic surface.
* Crevice nozzle for hard-to-reach places. Use the crevice nozzle to clean rocks, plant roots, and decorative items.
* Easy water-changing operation. To drain the water, simply remove the net holder, connect a small hose such as the Python Pro-Clean , then hook Profile Gravel Vac on the side of the tank and turn on the switch.
* Draining water without batteries. Profile Gravel Vac can also be used without batteries to drain the tank water. Holding the unit in the water and moving it up and down operates the built-in valve and pumps the water out of the tank.

Umm, after reading the last review, keep your receipt.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Umm, after reading the last review, keep your receipt.

Bob, you are too funny

dreamseeker12 - keep us posted on how this "thing" works.

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I have one like that. I just use it to vaccuum the nasties off the bottom. I don't use it to take water out. I use it between water changes.

Just put the bag on the side thingy and stick the vac in the water and turn it on. That's it.

*Kristin*

Thanks guys ^_^ I am going to the store today to buy batteries for it, so I hope I can figure out how to work it lol /:'

Fish are like potato chips. . .you can't have just one

Well I got batteries, and my dad attempted to figure out how to work it, and wonders of wonders. . .it doesn't work. I am tired of ordering countless things from the internet only to get home and find I wasted another 20$. I am now practically afraid of the whole fish keeping hobby and am considering giving it up altogether. The thing makes a really loud whirring noise when it's under water, but it doesn't do anything, just stir up my water and make it more dirty.

Fish are like potato chips. . .you can't have just one

How do you do a water change? I change about 20% a week by taking pitchers out and refilling it with treated tap water (stress coat) and clean the glass with the algae pad, and everytime I do, the water gets worse than it did before!!! you see a bunch of algae particles and dirty stuff floating in the water, and more water changes doesn't help, apparently you need a pump to use siphons, and now this thingy doesn't work!!!! I seriously give up on fish keeping!!!!!!!!!

Fish are like potato chips. . .you can't have just one

"Python Pro-Clean Gravel Washer & Siphon Kits ready-to-use water changing system tosses and sifts aquarium gravel, washing away debris and allowing the gravel to fall back to the aquarium floor. Extra long, flexible tubing neatly siphons water into your bucket. Offered in a variety of sizes."
[blurb sourced from same site you gave link to]

I have ALWAYS used this sort. A real champion. A bit suspicious of all the bells and whistles. KISS principle.http://petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=1669&PC=productlist&Nav=225&N=24%20135&cp=2&Nao=12&sku=863106&familyID=12405&

{how come in new version I cannot seem to have hyperlink say a single word and the the link points to page... I don't want to put all of the link stretching into infinity on the screen... used to have a dialogue box that let you enter on-screen word THEN link???}

Don't give up Dreamseeker. Just keep things simple. Maybe there is a lot of silt floating arouund because it has accumulated over the time since you first set up. Doing it weekly from now on means you will only have a week's worth. If you can use your current item as a syphon without the batteries for a while do it that way. I know with my vac I hover *above* the gravel to suck stuff into the pipe. That way it doesn't stir into the mid region of the tank.

I have been at the "I give up" phase with a filter-stress situation. I used to say "if only people who say h ow relaxing a fish tank is really knew!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

DreamSeeker,

You start a siphon hose by sucking on it. The discharge end must be lower than the intake end. Do it fast or you have a mouthful of bouillabaisse. You don't need a pump but you do need a large bucket for the discharge. Go to one of the big box hardware stores and pick up a plastic 5 gallon bucket.

The Python is the way to go... no batteries, waste water goes down the sink, fill the aquarium with the Python. I highly recommend the unit. You still need the bucket, it is a great place to store the Python by coiling it inside the bucket.

Ummm, did you keep the receipt to send the gravel vac back?



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

With my gravel vac thingy, you have to stick it in the gravel a good ways before it will start working. Make the tube thing the shortest it will go because if its not short enough, it won't work. I actually use mine more in my 55g because its more than tall enough.

I tilt mine to the right and left, to get the water into the bag on the side. That helps it start faster. Try again, using the bad directions I told you.

(~It would be easier if I could show you....I am not a good direction giver~)

I have never tried to take water out with mine. I use a Python. It is a miracle invention. I like being able to take the water out and put it back in with the same gadget. It saves alot of time. They run about $30 here. And my local Walmart sells them...so maybe you can talk your dad into getting one. If not, Walmart sells the plain siphons, that you have to fill with water to get started. You will need a bucket with one of those. They are pretty cheap (about $10).

*Kristin*