A better substrate vacuum

MixedFruitBasket · Aug 30, 2019

I have a siphon with a hand pump and larger end to siphon with, however it's easily clogged and it gets tiring squeezing that bulb because you have to squeeze it so often when trying to keep stuff moving. Anyhow, does anyone know of a better siphon? I don't have the option of hooking mine up to a faucet. I just need a way for stuff to keep moving either with an easier way to pump the water by hand or a better siphon I guess. My current one is a cheap pet smart brand similar to aqueoun.

COreef8 · Aug 30, 2019

MixedFruitBasket said:
I have a siphon with a hand pump and larger end to siphon with, however it's easily clogged and it gets tiring squeezing that bulb because you have to squeeze it so often when trying to keep stuff moving. Anyhow, does anyone know of a better siphon? I don't have the option of hooking mine up to a faucet. I just need a way for stuff to keep moving either with an easier way to pump the water by hand or a better siphon I guess. My current one is a cheap pet smart brand similar to aqueoun.

Hey, MixedFruitBasket. I like the user name.

Python makes really nice siphon system and it has never clogged on me, but they are a bit more expensive. They come with attachments for a garden hose, or a faucet. I know you said a faucet isn't an option, but they make them with up to 100' hose lengths (if distance is the limitation).

If that doesn't work, what I have always done is use my python siphon and put the end into a filter sock in the sump, then I can endlessly siphon the sandbed and rock. If you don't have a sump, you could get an add on filter sock attachment and put it in a bucket. Siphon through the filter sock until the bucket fills up, then dump the water back in.

If you're just using it for water changes, a DIY hang on PVC siphon is a great option. You just build it so the side that goes in the tank goes as deep as you need to do a 10, 20, 25% water change, or whatever you want, and the siphon will break when that much water gets removed.