2007-07-19 10:44:46 · 6 answers · asked by virginia c 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Do you mean a gravel vaccum? If it's a standard type with just a plastic tube and hose, put the wide end in your tank and the thin end in a bucket at the base of where your tank sits. Submerge the wide end with the opening pointed up so it fills with water. Lift the wide end until water starts draining up over the edge of the tank, then pull the wide end back underwater. Don't try to start the sophon by mouth - some day you'll end up with a mouthful of nasty water!
Turn the wide tube so the opening points down and gently press it into the gravel and lift up. The gravel will fall back into place, but all the gunk that was in the dravel will be siphoned up with the water. Only try to clean the very top of the gravel, and deeply into about 1/3 of the rest while removing about 1/4 of the water. Switch areas you clean each week.
The link below will give you a longer explanation, but I've covered the basic operation for you.
2007-07-19 10:57:28 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You dip the big end of the hose in the tank and pull it up till the water starts draining out of it and in to the bucket at the other end then put it back in the tank before you run out of water, the object is to start a vacuum so you can suck the fish poo off the bottom of the tank.
Or you could suck on the small end of the hose you might get some fish water in your mouth but it will work.
2007-07-19 10:51:23 · answer #2 · answered by Nicole D 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
first put the whole hose in the water and get all the air out of it then cover both ends so the air can't get in . you will need a bucket to put the small end in as the water siffens out it will pull the dirt out of the rocks and clean it . you will then have to put fresh water back in the big part will such up some of the rocks just shake out the rocks while leaving the big end in the water don't take it out it will brake the sucktion and you will have to start over
2007-07-19 10:53:03 · answer #3 · answered by sunshine 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
mines s powered by the sink, so i turn it on and go around the tank and dig the vaccum into the gravel and get waste.
I go around the tank and get all of the waste that is under the gravel. Then i reverse the suction, and then fill up the tank.
2007-07-19 12:32:18 · answer #4 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do it by mouth and im just fine. only had a warm drink the 1st time i tried lol.
2007-07-19 11:46:36 · answer #5 · answered by kdogg91 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
read the directions!
2007-07-19 10:52:39 · answer #6 · answered by unknown 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋