How the hell do i use this LOL? It is one of those long shafted ones with a tube on it, you have to submerge it fully and jerk it up and down to start to suck, but it doesn't actually suck anything up like a vacuum so nothing is getting sucked up but little water., pretty useless right now, so any help?
2006-12-22 12:04:59 · 9 answers · asked by Flames Fan 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
First you have to start the siphon process. There are two ways to do this. One is to place the fat end into the tank fully submerged. Then suck on the other end to get the water flowing and place the skinny end into a bucket onces the water is flowing. Some people don't like this as it's pretty easy to get a mouthful of water.
The other way is to fully submerge the entire gravel vac. Then keeping the fat end submerged place your thumb over the hole on the skinny and and lift it out of the tank. Place the skinny end into a buck and remove your thumb. Water should start flowing into the bucket.
One you get the siphon going you use the fat end to stir up the gravel. I normally just jam it straight down into the gravel and let it suck out the crud. Then move it a couple of inches and repeat.
Keep an eye on the bucket though, you don't want to overflow it.
2006-12-22 15:40:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
1) Mine never did start with the pushing up and down thing. They lie! I get it to start by submerging the entire tube, hose and all, and moving it around gently until every air bubble has come out.
2) Take the skinny end out and put it in a container that you can keep lower than the aquarium throughout the rest of the process. The water should be flowing by itself by now.
3) Once the water is flowing out into the container, you push the fat part of the tube into the gravel; you should be penetrating down to the bottom of the tank. Then immediately pull the tube straight back up, not sliding back and forth like the carpet vacuum. You should see some gravel get pulled up with it which will drift back down while the gunk gets sucked up with the water. Do the whole tank, poking the gravel slowly like that until the water comes clear.
If your gravel is really dirty, you might not have time to finish before your tank starts getting really low on water. Try not to do more than 1/3 of the water at a time, and just do daily water changes until the gravel does come clean in a normal vacuuming session. If you do it once a week or so, it should be easy.
It's better for your fish to live with a slightly dirty aquarium for one more day than for their water to change that drastically all at once. Big changes are always stressful for them.
Good luck!
2006-12-22 20:05:45 · answer #2 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to take the tube at the end and run it across the top half inch or so of gravel. By lifting the gravel a bit with the tube you will loosen excess food, waste etc. Most aquariums should have this done every week or two and 20% of the water should be drained doing this. Replace with new dechlorinated water.
2006-12-22 12:07:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to have the outlet for the hose below the waterline of the tank, preferably as low as possible,for the siphon to work. If that isn't the problem, then check for blockages/kinks in the hose that could be blocking water. Once the suction starts, make sure to push it into the gravel to vacuum up the debris caught in the rocks.
2006-12-22 12:11:43 · answer #4 · answered by Audrey A 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are 2 keys:
1)Put the other end lower than the fish tank.
2)Press the wide end into the gravel, and force a lot up the tube. Lift up, and let the gravel fall.
It's pain until you get the hang of it.
2006-12-22 14:29:43 · answer #5 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, if you have ever siphoned off gas then you should know how to do it. Just stick one end in the tank and drape the other side over the tank (make sure it is pointing down into bucket, then give a little suck on it and don't get any in your mouth (it doesn't taste very good) and then vaccuumme away! (not sure where the doubles come in so I will double them all!) AND good luck!
2006-12-22 12:16:00 · answer #6 · answered by sandiegiles 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well im not sure since i have one that hooks up to a sink. You're supposta suck gravel up and around in the tube. I suggest you get one that hooks up to the sink they are SO easy! they cost like 40$ though so... that sucks.
sorry i cant help you... i dont know
2006-12-22 12:15:56 · answer #7 · answered by Heather 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To start a siphon the easiest way is to suck on the other end of the hose just a bit, and then aim it towards the bucket.
2006-12-22 12:14:58 · answer #8 · answered by Johnny 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you can get one that hooks up to your sink faucet at a local fish store like petsmart or petco
2006-12-22 17:56:24 · answer #9 · answered by jersey1 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋