Fish Tank

[Parm]

Ok brainiacs and tinkerers

I have two quite large fish tanks all fitted with good quality filtration etc, however I still need to keep them clean by vacuuming the gravel on a regular basis.

Problem is I'm fed up of buying the cheap Chinese tat underwater vacs, flea bay sells them for around 15 quid while the proper aquarium shops sell the same rubbish for double.

Anyone got any ideas for a water suction device with some sort of filter that can be easily cleaned. If there is something that's available and used for another purpose and can be easily modified or adapted even better

I look forward to see what you folk can come up with

 

[the snooper]

more bottom feeders

 

[Parm]

more bottom feeders

There's always one !!

It's the gravel that's got a thick layer of brown dusty type stuff. Usually agitate gravel and then suck up the crap using the equally crap vacuum cleaners

So far I've come up with a washing machine motor attached to a suction tube. This will be fitted with a coarse mesh to stop gravel and fish getting sucked up. Outlet from pump straight back into tank via some description of filter.

Pump should be fairly robust to deal with very soft and fine detritus in the gravel

Opinions and advice please

 

[the snooper]

yeah my old man used to have one ran off the air pump if I remember, how about just getting a water pump pulling it out straight though a filter and back into the tank, not one that will have the fish fighting its suction and a crude filter on the suction pipe so you don't pull the gravel up

 

[Parm]

yeah my old man used to have one ran off the air pump if I remember, how about just getting a water pump pulling it out straight though a filter and back into the tank, not one that will have the fish fighting its suction and a crude filter on the suction pipe so you don't pull the gravel up

See above

I've got one of those but it's just stupidly slow

 

[the snooper]

See above

I've got one of those but it's just stupidly slow

ahh didn't see all that for some reason, I think a washing machine pump may be a little too much and I don't think they are self priming due to the fact they always have water in them when machine is full

did you cheat and edit that post after I had initially read it ?

 

[Parm]

No not at all, I was writing my stuff when my iPad told me I had a post, soon as I hit the send button then I saw yours.

Good point with washing machine pump.

Ive got a drill powered pump that ive tested my concept with and now looking for something similar with an in built motor. eBay has some Chinese stuff around the 10 quid mark in either 12 or 240 volts and pumps around 400 litres per hour but I'm reluctant to waste my money on these

Any ideas

 

[Parm]

ahh didn't see all that for some reason, I think a washing machine pump may be a little too much and I don't think they are self priming due to the fact they always have water in them when machine is full

did you cheat and edit that post after I had initially read it ?

Great minds think alike !!!

 

[DanielW]

How about a good car petrol pump,mind you'd have to strip it and give it a good clean....don't want the fishys floating on the top.

The hose suction filter could be medium net curtain cotton.

 

[Parm]

How about a good car petrol pump,mind you'd have to strip it and give it a good clean....don't want the fishys floating on the top.

The hose suction filter could be medium net curtain cotton.

Can't take the risk with fishes on that one, but will look into cost of new one

 

[Wedg1e]

Would a pond pump not be the obvious choice? You could throttle the flow on all the ones I've used on water features etc.

 

[Rig Pig]

You can control the flow on any impeller pump with a valve, priming would be fairly easy with a funnel and a jug tipping water up the outlet pipe.

 

[rtbcomp]

Caravan water pump?

 

[Windy Miller]

Caravan water pump?

That's a pretty good shout actually - might be just what you need!

 

[cumbriasteve]

Windscreen washer pump? some of the little sods have the power to soak my car from the car in front.

 

[the snooper]

Windscreen washer pump? some of the little sods have the power to soak my car from the car in front.

I doubt it would cope with the solids and would block up easily

 

[Parm]

Caravan water pump?

This one sounds intersting, espcially if its an impellar pump where i can regulate the flow and esy to prime.

Watch this space folks !

 

[steviec_lj]

Bilge pump? I've got a small one (ooerr mrs) on my jet ski, its not sussed about small bits of crud.

 

[justin]

why do you want to reuse dirty water. surely it is better to just syphon out all the muck and replace it with fresh water.

 

[strada]

Why not take the gravel out and replace with sand,
its what i use in my 5 ft. Twice a week i just syphon off the crap with a normal garden hose .I just do it as a normal water change routine.Easy and never had any problems with sand,just keep your inlet for your filter high enough so it doesn't suck up any sand kicked up by fish.